Benita’s dog trainer work started as a child
Growing up in Pretoria, Benita Henrico, a K9 unit trainer at Karongwe River Lodge, always knew she would follow a career working with dogs.
Henrico says she did a dog handling 1-5 course at Genesis K9 after leaving school. “I always wanted to work in the bushveld and do something for conservation. Combining both has been a dream come true,” she says. Henrico says her passion for dogs comes from her mother who trained dogs as a hobby for 40 years.
“My mother is now working as the canine coordinator for the Endangered Wildlife Trust. I look up to her for what she has achieved.” She was only eleven years old when she trained her first dog, a border collie. “I trained him on agility, obedience, tracking, bite work, and doing tricks for fun. I am still lucky to have him with me even though he is retired.”
In 2020 she landed her first job as a dog handler at Green Trax. “I learned a lot about tracking and working in the field. I have also been privileged to work as a trainer in Mozambique for Acacia K9 with my partner, Chad Lawrence,” Henrico says. She was also listed as the third-best junior agility handler in South Africa in 2018 with her first training dog, Pepsi.
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“Training and working with dogs are absolutely wonderful, especially if you walk a path with a dog and achieve your goals. It is so satisfying to see them advance in their training,” she adds. “Some dogs are difficult to work with, but they also teach you something. Being a trainer takes a lot of patience and understanding, but above all, you must be passionate.”
Henrico and Lawrence are currently involved in anti-poaching activities in the reserve. “The dogs themselves inspire me every day, seeing them work and their abilities is absolutely incredible,” she concludes.
