Four willing protege puppies, still learning the human world, will take another step in their training by sitting in on a Shakespeare play, for the entire two and a half hours.
The labrador puppies are all about a year old and will accompany their puppy raisers to a free show of Twelfth Night, in Vancouver, on June 30.
Melissa Toong, with B.C. and Alberta Guide Dogs, said the event is being done in partnership with Bard on the Beach, as a cross-promotional event.
Bard on the Beach is providing free tickets for the volunteer puppy raisers while B.C. and Alberta Guide Dogs will hand out brochures that night to the audience.
The dogs have already been exposed to crowds and social scenes as they prepare to become autism or PTSD service dogs or guide dogs for the blind.
However, the dogs haven’t yet entered their advanced training, which takes place when they’re about two years old.
“It will be a great socialization opportunity for our dogs. The lights, sounds, and enthusiastic clapping are something our dogs might not have had a chance to be exposed to otherwise. It is also an opportunity for Bard to demonstrate their support for the accessibility needs of our community,” said Toong. “This is just a bit more focused, in the sense that they have to sit throughout the play.”
This is the first time for the event, she added.
Labradors are always used as guide dogs because of their temperament, personality and size, she said.
