WITH LUCA, THE GUIDE DOG, I FEAR NO EVIL

WALKING down the street blindfolded, the sound of rolling trolleys becomes frighteningly loud.

The uneven pavement also feels precarious.

I hesitate but Luca, the guide dog, keeps going.

I am taking part in guide dog-training with SA Guide Dog Association trainer Joel van Stavel. Even he has to walk blindfolded every so often to make sure his dogs are sufficiently trained.

Van Stavel spends his weekdays training year-old labrador and golden retriever puppies. It takes him six months to teach them to lead people, dodge obstacles and remain calm even when other dogs are nearby.

When Luca walks past the noisy shops, he does not even stop to greet the nearby puppy tied to a pole.

I bump into a passerby but it is my fault because I strayed too far from the dog. Luca has actually left enough space for me to manoeuvre past people.

During training, Van Stavel teaches dogs to move away from objects by hitting a potential obstacle and commanding the dog to step away.

The puppies train each morning from the minute they leave their kennels.

The dogs are not allowed to leap up and down, excited because they are going out.

Although they lead the trainer, they can't charge ahead or they will be pulled back and told to "heel".

It can take three to four weeks to teach them to walk in a calm and focused manner to the van in which they are transported in and out.

Van Stavel gets to know each dog, which he will later match to an owner.

When Van Stavel has finished training the animals, blind people spend three weeks at the centre learning to walk with their dogs.

He does miss them when they go to their new homes.

"It's like being a teacher. Even I have a favourite."