August 31, 2024, 2:42 pm | Read time: 6 minutes
Assistance dogs are intended to support people with physical or mental disabilities in their everyday lives. They are usually trained and placed by associations. One of these is Vita Assistenzhunde e. V. PETBOOK spoke to the first chairwoman, Tatjana Kreidler, about the work with the animals and the challenges that this entails.
When we think of assistance dogs, we often picture four-legged companions aiding individuals with physical disabilities by performing tasks such as opening doors or retrieving items. However, the work of these four-legged friends is extremely varied. They are used in care facilities and various social projects. There, the animals not only support people with disabilities, depression, or dementia but also promote interaction and the well-being of those affected.
But what accounts for the dogs’ remarkable success? And what qualities must they possess to accomplish their many vital tasks? PETBOOK spoke with Tatjana Kreidler, the first chairwoman of “Vita Assistenzhunde e. V.” to learn more about their impactful work. In the interview, the social pedagogue explains what makes working with the animals so valuable.
“Dogs open hearts and bring lightness to difficult situations”
Ms. Kreidler, you have been training four-legged helpers for people with mental or physical disabilities at Vita Assistenzhunde e. V. for almost 25 years. What is everyday life like for the assistance dogs?
“Our dogs visit various facilities. Residents feed the dogs treats, provide them with water, or simply pet them. This can encourage motor activities and makes most of them very happy. We often see people who are otherwise difficult to reach open up to the dogs and participate in their environment again for a moment. The relationship between humans and dogs, based on trust and patience, plays an important role. In addition, regular visits from the dogs give the residents something to look forward to and give their everyday lives a little meaning again.”
There are certainly many emotional moments in your work. Which experience do you particularly remember?
“I can really think of countless. If we limit ourselves to the dogs we train for animal-assisted intervention, I immediately think of Valentin, the golden retriever. He was ‘working’ in a retirement home and visiting a dying resident. She really wanted to see Valentin again.
The dog entered the room, sniffed around, then approached the bed and gently nudged his snout under the woman’s hand, prompting her to smile. He leaped onto the bed, and as the resident gently stroked him, she said, ‘This is yet another one of my most cherished moments, and now I am ready to go.’ For me, this moment was a real goosebump moment and very emotional.”
“A dog can often achieve more than a person”
Doesn’t the work take a lot out of you?
“It’s actually very emotionally challenging but also very fulfilling. There are many moments when the dog comforts people and brings joy. But there are also situations from time to time that are challenging even for me. But I know how much being together with our dogs means to people.
A dog can often achieve more than a person. They open hearts and bring lightness to difficult situations. When I see how much joy and happiness our assistance and therapy dogs bring to people over many years, I know that it’s worth putting so much energy into this precious work.”
“People and animals communicate on a deep emotional level that is not affected by the illness”
Therapy dogs are often used to help people with dementia. What exactly can the animals do for them?
“A dog for animal-assisted intervention is a great mediator when people with dementia withdraw into their own world, which caregivers and relatives can hardly access. Dogs express their affection very directly – by wagging their tails, nudging, or snuggling up. They respond to touch, gestures, eye contact, and other non-verbal signals and intuitively sense moods and feelings. Humans and animals communicate on a deep emotional level that is not affected by the disease.”
Do you have an example of this?
“The dog doesn’t mind if a human says the same things over and over again if words are incomprehensible or don’t make sense. His affection is unbiased, honest, and unconditional. It fulfills the very primal longing for closeness, warmth, comfort, tenderness, affirmation, and recognition.
The canine therapist often awakens a desire for care and nurturing in individuals with dementia, tapping into a need deeply embedded in their memory. The experience of being needed, of being important, and of having a meaningful task strengthens the self-esteem of those affected and encourages them to be active. A dog provides structure and orientation in everyday life by openly and unselfconsciously demanding their needs.”
Does your club only train Labradors and Golden Retrievers?
“Yes, because both breeds are ideal for working with people who are mentally or physically impaired due to their natural dispositions. Their ease of handling and their famous ‘will to please’ – i.e., their eagerness to please their human – make Golden and Labrador Retrievers so well suited to training as assistance and therapy dogs.
Their even temperament allows them to adapt quickly to a wide variety of situations. They are neither aggressive nor nervous or anxious, but cheerful and lively and take part in the lives of their two-legged partners with a lot of composure and gentleness.”
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“The teams I train usually stay together for the rest of their lives”
How long do the dogs work in this area? Up to what age?
“That depends on the dog, of course. A dog like Valentin was still active at the age of twelve, even if his assignments became less frequent. He would visit people he liked in the retirement home, get a treat, or get lots of cuddles.
It’s important to observe the dog closely and recognize how much joy he gets from being with people and which tasks he still enjoys doing. The teams I train usually stay together for the rest of the dog’s life. When the dog gets older, the humans continue to look after it because it is part of the family.”
How important is the support of sponsors like Fressnapf?
“Our association is financed exclusively by sponsors, donations, and permanent donors and receives neither public funding nor subsidies from health insurance companies. That’s why our collaboration with Fressnapf is vital to us. For over a decade, the company has been one of our most significant sponsors and partners. Without Fressnapf, we would be able to support far fewer people with a Vita assistance or therapy dog and thus help them to achieve greater independence and quality of life.”