Guide dogs in training take a trip to the Montecasino Bird Gardens

Puppies donned their learner jackets as they continued on their quest to become guide dogs for those in need.

May 13, 2022

Khomotso Makgabutlane 1 minute read

Felix takes a much-needed rest from guide dog training. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

Five puppy trainers and their puppies of the South African Guide-Dogs Association visited Montecasino Bird Gardens for a training exercise on April 19.
The trainers took their puppies for a walk along the variety of bird displays to see how they would react and for them to have more exposure outside with the general public.

Robynne Kirkham watches puppy Felix as he explores at the Montecasino Bird Gardens. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

One of the supervisors of the association Kelly Malleus said the guide dogs were trained once a week.
“During the week, the puppy raisers can also do their own outings with the puppy. They need constant exposure to the public when training,” she told Fourways Review.
Angel Conradie was one of the puppy raisers on the walk with her dog Fidget. She said she had been raising guide dog puppies for 10 years and said she had loved raising Fidget since he was seven weeks old.

Guide dog Felix tries to interact with a meerkat while on a walk at the Montecasino Bird Gardens. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

“Fidget is a laid back dog which is not typical of a Labrador, and that’s been nice because the other pups we have raised have been very excitable. It’s a lot of work raising them but the pride you get when they do something you’ve been trying to teach them is amazing.
“When they leave, it is a little bit heartsore. But because you do so much work to prepare them for their careers, you want to go and do what you’ve been training them to do. It’s amazing to see all the work done paying off.”

Robynne Kirkham and Felix enjoy the sun after the puppy training class with the South African Guide-Dogs Association. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

At the end of the training class, Malleus commended each dog for their good work in the morning during the walk.
“They did very well today,” she said. “We did some obedience with them with general commands, but we wanted them to expose them to see the birds. None of them barked or tried to chase the birds.

Angel Conradie and Fidget at the Montecasino Bird Gardens for their weekly classes. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

“We do want to expose the dogs to people. It does happen when people would like to touch the dogs, but it would be best for people to ask first if they can touch the dogs so we can get them in a sit and get them calm so that they don’t jump on people or run to them.”