WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Greylock Canine Club's Bow Wow Bus took its inaugural field trip Friday morning to the Spruces.

 

"It just gives the dogs a change of scenery," Greylock Canine Club owner Pete Umbrianna said, holding back his dog Quinn and her walking mate Lemon. "They have a beautiful big play area, but it is nice for them to see different things. And it is a socialization thing."

 

Greylock Canine Club, a dog day-care at 1099 New Ashford Road, refurbished an old school bus to transport dogs. The seats are fastened with special hooks to keep the dogs stable but allow them the flexibility to look out the window. The bus even has a working "dogs loading sign" that flips off the side of the bus.

 

The bus rolled into the Spruces around 10 a.m. Friday morning. Instead of children's limbs hanging out the windows, snouts poked out.

 

Greylock Canine Club Manager and bus driver Molly Smith said the ride went well.

 

"It was easy," she said. "We did it one by one."

 

Employee Nolan Gageant said, like any excited student on the day of a field trip, the dogs knew it wasn't a normal day.

 

"Luke knew something was up," he said. "He is our most neutral dog. He just hangs out and is calm. But he knew something was going on today."

 

The pack remained leashed the entire walk and stayed off on a side path away from the main walking path to avoid unleashed dogs, bikers and walkers. Umbrianna said he trusted every single dog in the pack but preferred to err on the side of caution.

 

He said the dogs will be out and about for between a half hour and an hour. He said this could change depending on how many dogs are on the bus. 

 

Umbrianna added that they plan to offer pickups and drop-offs knowing dogs typically go to the day care on certain days.

 

"If someone really wanted to go on the field trip but it wasn't their normal day we will pick them up," he said. "These dogs are all Friday dogs."

 

He said the team has been working on scoping out new locations throughout the region for future trips.