The door opens and 16 tripping paws echo down the hallways.
We all know the commercial for the Trygfonden's visiting dogs, right?
A senior citizen lights up with the biggest smile when a lucky doggie comes to visit. The joy is almost equal for both the dog and the senior citizen, and you sit at home in the living room with a lump in your throat and the desire to do something good yourself!
For several years I had dreamed of becoming a visiting friend at a nursing home. Unfortunately, we didn't have a dog that was suitable for that: the old one we had (Bjørn) was too old and Ralf was a bit nervous in his younger days.
When we lost Bjørn, I also lost the idea of becoming a visiting friend. How could I offer the elderly something when Ralf was a bit nervous? Would he even want to talk to the elderly?
However, fate would have it that our one-dog pack expanded to four dogs: Ralf, Allie, Alfred and Kato. This suddenly made me see the possibility of being a visiting friend again. But alas: Kato is too old and Alfred is too young according to the admission requirements from the Trygfonden.
So what?
By chance, we saw a post in the local newspaper “Would you like to be a visiting friend at the nursing home? - We are looking for volunteers!” Yes to that one!
Finally the chance was here!
We contacted the nursing home, arranged a "trial visit" where we could be shown around and assess whether it was actually something for us and get information for future visits - fortunately it was a match for all of us (even Ralf, who was previously nervous).
The planning was now ours: the dogs are exercised before the visit, the low-fat treats are stuffed in their pockets and the water is packed in the car, so everything is ready - environmental training and socialization have been done in advance for the dogs, so that they are stable towards the elderly.
Suddenly we found ourselves in the middle of the advertisement for Trygfonden's visiting dogs: the happy smiles and 16 little tripping paws in the hallways became a reality! Already at the first visit the joy was great, but now that we have been associated with the nursing home for 5 months the joy has multiplied!
The residents light up, "No, who's that coming there?", and wait with longing for the dogs to reach them.
The stories from their younger days, when they had dogs themselves, are told cheerfully - from time to time many times when memory fails. Pictures are taken of an elderly citizen with a dog in his lap "do you realize how happy my daughters will be when they see this?"
The blind citizen gets one dog in bed, later two, and finally asks "are the other two too big to get in bed?" - the answer is no and after a short time there are no less than four dogs in bed, snuggling and creating joy.
We go around making short visits from one citizen to another.
After a couple of hours, we head back home. The dogs are a little more tired - full in the head from the impressions (and full from the treats that were happily handed out), and the rest of us are incredibly happy and warm inside!
If there are others out there considering whether they would like to try standing in the middle of Trygfonden's advertisement for visiting dogs, then it can only be recommended!
For us, the path was not through the Trygfonden, but through private agreements, but I can only recommend that you jump into it one way or the other: whether you choose the private path or try the Trygfonden sessions, you will create joy for the elderly.
About this week's blogger:
Nanna is 23 years old and the daughter of a dog trainer.
Has been involved as a "foal" since she was 6 years old, both within DCH and now independently.
I am the happy owner of no less than four beautiful doggies: Ralf, Alfred, Kato and Allie.
Visiting dogs that delight
The door opens and 16 tripping paws echo down the hallways.
We all know the commercial for the Trygfonden's visiting dogs, right?
A senior citizen lights up with the biggest smile when a lucky doggie comes to visit. The joy is almost equal for both the dog and the senior citizen, and you sit at home in the living room with a lump in your throat and the desire to do something good yourself!
For several years I had dreamed of becoming a visiting friend at a nursing home. Unfortunately, we didn't have a dog that was suitable for that: the old one we had (Bjørn) was too old and Ralf was a bit nervous in his younger days.
When we lost Bjørn, I also lost the idea of becoming a visiting friend. How could I offer the elderly something when Ralf was a bit nervous? Would he even want to talk to the elderly?
However, fate would have it that our one-dog pack expanded to four dogs: Ralf, Allie, Alfred and Kato. This suddenly made me see the possibility of being a visiting friend again. But alas: Kato is too old and Alfred is too young according to the admission requirements from the Trygfonden.
So what?
By chance, we saw a post in the local newspaper “Would you like to be a visiting friend at the nursing home? - We are looking for volunteers!” Yes to that one!
Finally the chance was here!
We contacted the nursing home, arranged a "trial visit" where we could be shown around and assess whether it was actually something for us and get information for future visits - fortunately it was a match for all of us (even Ralf, who was previously nervous).
The planning was now ours: the dogs are exercised before the visit, the low-fat treats are stuffed in their pockets and the water is packed in the car, so everything is ready - environmental training and socialization have been done in advance for the dogs, so that they are stable towards the elderly.
Suddenly we found ourselves in the middle of the advertisement for Trygfonden's visiting dogs: the happy smiles and 16 little tripping paws in the hallways became a reality! Already at the first visit the joy was great, but now that we have been associated with the nursing home for 5 months the joy has multiplied!
The residents light up, "No, who's that coming there?", and wait with longing for the dogs to reach them.
The stories from their younger days, when they had dogs themselves, are told cheerfully - from time to time many times when memory fails. Pictures are taken of an elderly citizen with a dog in his lap "do you realize how happy my daughters will be when they see this?"
The blind citizen gets one dog in bed, later two, and finally asks "are the other two too big to get in bed?" - the answer is no and after a short time there are no less than four dogs in bed, snuggling and creating joy.
We go around making short visits from one citizen to another.
After a couple of hours, we head back home. The dogs are a little more tired - full in the head from the impressions (and full from the treats that were happily handed out), and the rest of us are incredibly happy and warm inside!
If there are others out there considering whether they would like to try standing in the middle of Trygfonden's advertisement for visiting dogs, then it can only be recommended!
For us, the path was not through the Trygfonden, but through private agreements, but I can only recommend that you jump into it one way or the other: whether you choose the private path or try the Trygfonden sessions, you will create joy for the elderly.
About this week's blogger:
Nanna is 23 years old and the daughter of a dog trainer.
Has been involved as a "foal" since she was 6 years old, both within DCH and now independently.