In Ontario, Canada, a crowd of service dogs attended a theatre production of Billy Elliot as part of their training. A couple of photographs posted of the dogs attentively sitting have gone viral this past week. The well-behaved poodles and Golden retrievers are just about the cutest thing you will see.
The dogs are training for the K-9 Country Inn Working Service Dogs in Ontario, Canada. The company offers its dogs and support programs for PTSD, Autism, and mobility issues. Recently, the dogs were taken to the Stratford Festival, a theater festival that runs through October every year.
The K-9 Country Inn uses this trip to teach the service dogs obedience and socialization skills. The theater trips also provide experience with learning how to navigate in public with their handlers. The owner of K-9 Country Inn said it’s vital that the dogs learn to handle all potentially tricky situations.
The theater is an excellent place for the dogs to learn how to behave with multiple stimuli like loud noises, movements, and lights. The dogs learn how to remain calm in a tight space for a long period of time. The dogs need to be able to lead their owners through big crowds and not be distracted by lights and sounds.
The Stratford Festival offers “relaxed performances,” which are designed for people who may need a bit of assistance. These performances have a relaxed attitude toward noise and movement within the theater. There may also be changes to light intensities and sounds. During these relaxed performances, dogs and babies are welcomed to attend.
A spokesperson for the theater said the service dogs were very well-behaved. Each dog took a seat and only left their seat during the intermission. It was such a successful outing; the K-9 Country Inn is planning another trip with their new trainees when the theater opens again in April. Here’s a short clip on the theater trip:
Credits: Elizabeth Copeman Facebook and Sky News Australia YouTube
