Dog becomes tourist sensation on South African motorcycle tours

By Ottilie Von Henning via SWNS

Meet the real-life Gromit taking over motorcycle tours - by hopping in the sidecar with the tourists.

Brody, 10, a rescue pup, enjoys accompanying tourists sat upright in the sidecar - just like Wallace's favorite chum.

Owner, Tim Clarke, 68, introduced Brody into the sidecar tour world when he was just three months old.

Now, as soon as Brody hears the jangle of Tim's keys or sees him grabbing his bag, he is up and sitting dutifully in the sidecar.

Tim, a tour guide for Cape Sidecar Adventures in Cape Town, South Africa, said: "You can tell he knows when it is going to happen.

"He will hear the keys moving or a bike starting or see me grab his bag for the road, which includes some treats, poo bags and water bowls.

"As soon as he notices any of these, he's in the back seat of the sidecar ready to go."

Tim rescued Brody over 10 years ago when he was just five weeks old.

He spent the first two months enjoying the sights and sounds of the motorcycle tours' workshop, before jumping in the sidecar one day to join Tim on an outing.

Since, he has joined Tim on all of his city tours.

The pair get booked up well in advance with Brody being a particularly popular addition to the sidecar tours.

And who wouldn't want their very own Gromit while being swept through the South African city's vistas.

Brody does have a "stunt double" in sweet Valentine, who was brought into the sidecar workshop more recently.

She isn't as much of a natural for the gig as Brody is but she provides a solid backup option for when Brody is unavailable.

Both dogs spend their days in the workshop, providing a helping paw to the riders and motorbikes alike.

Tim said: "Brody only lasted a couple month being a workshop dog, which is what we initially adopted him to be.

"He disappeared on a bike one day and that was how it all started.

"We realized his value was much better on the actual tours instead of in the workshop, so I started taking him out all the time.

Brody is both a co-tour guide and a therapy dog for nervous tourists along for the ride.

Tim said: "Tourists can get anxious on the bike so he will cuddle them and rest his snout on their shoulders to help calm them down.

"He has a really calming, gentle presence generally.

"Nothing really phases him, be that big bangs, loud noises or whatever."