Learning from dogs

Learning from dogs

The philosophy of Nika and Txispa
By AEPA-Euskadi
aepa.euskadi@gmail.com

As many of you know, in AEPA-Euskadi, we are working in two Old People Houses and other group projects with our dogs Nika and Txispa.

We have often observed that a lot of professionals who carry out cognitive stimulation activities with elderly people, usually ask questions as a mental exercise like: How similar is an apple to a pear? Generally, they focus on telling the difference with varied answers like: “They are not similar at all”, “They have different colours”. If they are motivated by the monitor in order to make an effort, someone could answer: “Both are green” or “Both are round”. At last, after thinking a lot, someone could answer: “Both are fruits”.

In AEPA-Euskadi, we fear that this way of thinking is not unique for elderly people. It´s very common to observe this in people of different ages and social position as a result of the bringing up prone to show the different or the unknown as something dangerous. It is this attitude that leads us to foster discrimination against the difference: race, religion, sexual attitude, social status, cultural level, physical or mental disabilities, etc.

On 30th, May, 2007 we got into Basauri Penitentiary Centre with our two assistance dogs Nika and Txispa for the first time. The goal of our visit was to offer a different activity to a group of inmates through a little positive canine training course. Undoubtedly, the simple fact of going into a prison for the first time made us restless, to say the least. The place impressed us even before going in, and why not say it, the people we met in, too. However, Nika and Txispa didn´t agree. With their attitude they made our visit as pleasant and friendly as it gets. The inmates focused their attention on them and they greeted us in a welcoming way. They enjoyed watching and petting both dogs and the dogs did what they do better: to give and to get love. Everybody had a smile on their face.
When we went out, we wondered: where have we been? Meanwhile, Nika and Txispa were playing with a stick in the park.

On 29th, June, 2007 we went into the Basque Parliament in Vitoria (Alava) for the first time with our two assistance dogs Nika and Txispa. The goal of our visit was to attend the Parliamentary session as guests. In this session the amendment to the “guide dogs law” was being debated. Undoubtedly, the simple fact of going into the Basque Parliament for the first time made us restless, to say the least. The place impressed us even before going in, and why not say it, the people we met in, too. However, Nika and Txispa didn´t agree. With their attitude they made our visit as pleasant and friendly as it gets. The MPs focused their attention on them and they greeted us in a welcoming way. They enjoyed watching and petting both dogs and the dogs did what they do better: to give and to get love. Everybody had a smile on their face.
When we went out, we wondered: where have we been? Meanwhile, Nika and Txispa were playing with a stick in the park.

Let´s learn a little from Nika and Txispa.

Thank you to both!