Last Tuesday was an exciting day for the girls and boys at the Schiferplatz kindergarten in Eferding. The Papillon dog Nala visited with her owner Patricia Ballleitner to show the school starters how to properly interact with their wagging companions.
The three-year-old toy spaniel is ideal for this task. Nala is a tiny dog weighing just four kilos and looks funny with her big, thickly hairy ears. There’s nothing scary about the little dog lady. Nala also has a good-natured, cheerful nature and is particularly fond of children. “Nala loves people in general,” says her owner with a laugh. Patricia Balleitner is not only a trained social worker, but has also trained with her dog to become a human-dog therapy team. Since then, the duo has regularly visited kindergartens on behalf of the “Wau instead of Au” association.
Nala is looking forward to her mission
At the workshop in the Eferding kindergarten last Tuesday, Ballleitner and her dog were waiting for the girls and boys full of excitement in the gymnasium before eight in the morning. “Nala always looks forward to her assignments, even though they are also very tiring for her because she has to be there with full concentration for at least an hour,” says the 30-year-old social worker from Alkoven. There are always lots of extra treats for the Papillon dog at the workshops.
When the children come into the room with their carer, Nala greets them, already sitting on her doily. The girls and boys sit down on the prepared gymnastics benches, visibly pleased but also a little excited. Memory cards with different dog motifs are already scattered on the floor, with which Ballleitner begins her workshop. Nala uses her paw to select a card, which her owner turns over, then a child gets to turn over a second card. For each motif, the dog expert explains what behavior the animal shows on the card. One time it is a dog sniffing, another time it is a dog playing or showing its teeth. After all pairs of cards have been found, the children can either pet or brush Nala. They are obviously happy that they can touch the Papillon dog, but they are still very careful and reserved. But the girls and boys become braver every time.
For the next exercise, the children are allowed to lie on their stomachs on the floor and have a treat placed on their leg or back. Nala then carefully picks it up. “Uh, that tickled,” a girl says, giggling as Nala licks the treat from her calf. Another says, somewhat disappointedly: “I didn’t feel anything.”
Finally, there is a dog professional quiz in which the five-year-olds have to guess whether statements about certain dog behaviors are right or wrong. Of course, everyone has noticed that you shouldn’t pull dogs’ tails, for example, or that some foods that we humans like, such as chocolate or raisins, are poisonous to dogs.
And because everyone took part so hard, they finally received a dog professional ID card from Patricia Ballleitner.
“I now know that you should never pull dogs’ tails, it hurts them.”
Eva, 5 years
“What I liked best was being able to pet Nala. She’s so soft.”
Luca, 5 years
“During the workshops, the children can reduce their fears and insecurities.”
Patricia Balleitner, therapy dog handler
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Source: Nachrichten
