Awww: See Group of Training Service Dogs take in performance of Billie Elliott at Stratford Theater

[hlthe2b]

Love this photo of dogs watching a performance of Billy Elliott. They’re training to become service dogs, and they're practicing what it's like to help their handlers navigate through a theater.

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"The theatre gives us the opportunity to expose the dogs to different stimuli such as lights, loud noises and movement of varying degrees. The dogs must remain relaxed in tight quarters for an extended period of time."

In the process of the training, the dogs and their handlers do everything an attendee would do: navigate safely though crowds, travel along narrow aisles, fit into bathroom stalls — all while ignoring distractions, including food and the other attendees.

The dogs attended one of Stratford's "relaxed performances" for people who need softer lighting and gentler sounds, who tend to vocalize during the performances, or who need to move around, making the shows ideal for attendees on the autism spectrum, parents with infants or young children, or people who need to get up during a show.

The shows are part of the festival's many accessibility initiatives, which include performances with closed captioning for the hearing impaired, audio description for the visually impaired, braille programs and touch tours.

"About a dozen dogs came to our relaxed performance, and they were all extremely well-behaved," says Stratford Festival spokesperson Ann Swerdfager. "I was in the lobby when they came in, then they took their seats, then got out of their seats at intermission and went back — all of the things we learn as humans when we start going to the theatre."

[50 Shades Of Blue]

1. What precious dogs!

[FM123]

2. They are so adorable and so well-behaved!

"I was in the lobby when they came in, then they took their seats, then got out of their seats at intermission and went back — all of the things we learn as humans when we start going to the theatre."

[Karadeniz]

3. More IQ in those few seats than an entire Trump rally.

[demmiblue]

4. Dogs are angels on Earth.

And we kind of don't deserve them.