Young guide dogs train to sniff out theatre pitfalls

Young guide dogs have been helping test a theatre for acoustics and access issues for future theatre-loving owners.

The pups were invited to Norwich's Theatre Royal as part of their training, to experience everything from its layout and seating, to narrow spaces and sounds and lighting.

Before becoming dedicated working dogs, formal training starts at about 14 months of age and dogs are customarily trained on transport, including buses and trains.

Puppy development adviser Jay Baker said: "These dogs are the difference between someone having the confidence to leave the house, go to work and get to come and do things like the theatre."

Zoe Phillips, assistant director at the Theatre Royal, said it was "an amazing opportunity to really work on showing how accessible we are".

"We've got accessible performances of almost every show that we do, from signed and audio described, we have touch tours," she said.

"We try and make sure everyone can access theatre and we want to work with the community as much as we can to make sure that's possible."

Susie and Peter Bell, who recently moved from Shropshire to Norfolk are currently training their ninth guide dog puppy, Martie.

They said they had never taken the dogs to a theatre for training before.

"It's actually enhanced our life tremendously by doing this," Susie said.

"We brought up five children together, they have all left home... this has really cemented us together again.

"We are not stopping anytime now. We are loving it. It's such a great way to meet people and pass over the stories of guide dogs to strangers."

Peter said the staff at the theatre had been "wondrous".

"It's critical for dogs that are going to be working guide dogs to be acclimatized with all environments," he said.

"What the Theatre Royal is doing is great because it means that if and when he [Martie] becomes a working dog and comes back, then it's not something new that's going to faze him.

"It's such good fun, it's not arduous."

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