Hanover. Dogs are not only people's best friends, they can often help us in special ways in everyday life, both emotionally and practically. With a series on various assistance and rescue dogs, Agila Pet Insurance wants to pay tribute to these special animals and the services they provide. The second part of this series deals with dogs that help people in wheelchairs to cope with their everyday lives independently. Agila spent a day accompanying Emily, a young woman who is dependent on a wheelchair, and 'Xantho', her standard poodle.
It's Friday. Emily and 'Xantho' get up around 9 a.m. as usual. Since the two moved into their own small apartment a few months ago, their bond has become even stronger. Before that, they lived with Emily's parents, who of course helped the 24-year-old a lot in her day-to-day life. Now the two can do it on their own.
Today is a good day, Emily washes and dresses herself. Sometimes this doesn't go so well, on bad days her hands sometimes refuse to work. Then 'Xantho' helps her to undress and dress. He can even open or close a zipper. Emily also leaves the choice of her clothes to 'Xantho' today. Since her accident in 2018, when she suffered a severe traumatic brain injury, her sense of smell no longer works 100 percent. That's why the poodle checks the clothes, or more precisely, nudges the part of the body that needs a fresh piece of clothing. Today the male puts the T-shirt straight into the laundry basket and gets Emily a fresh one from the closet.
After breakfast and a short walk around the garden for 'Xantho', Emily takes a taxi to the physio, like she does every Friday. Her barrier-free apartment is on the ground floor and she can easily get to the car via the step-free entrance. She knows the driver; he has a standing order for all trips to the almost daily therapies. 'Xantho' doesn't take her to the physio, he wouldn't be able to help there, so he stays home alone. He isn't happy about it because he can't look after Emily during that time. But he gives in and waits patiently for the hour and a half or so for his protégé to return.
When Emily finally returns at around 1 p.m., the four-legged friend is as happy as if she had been away for several days. “That's the great thing about an assistance dog – he's always happy to see you and he loves to help you. You don't even have to ask him to – 'Xantho' is actually really unhappy when he has to give up responsibility for me for a while,” says Emily, describing the difference between the dog's help and human support. Right at the beginning of their joint training to become an assistance dog team, the then 20-year-old had an experience with 'Xantho', who had just grown out of puppyhood, which made this unconditional willingness to help clear to her for the first time: “There were only two of us at the training at the airport. It was crowded and I was very nervous. My sunglasses, wallet and keys promptly fell down and scattered across the forecourt. Before I even noticed the damage, 'Xantho' started picking everything up again and putting it on my lap. He does this without comment, without judgment, without expressions of pity, simply because it makes him happy to help me.”
After lunch, Emily and 'Xantho' go for a walk in the neighboring park, which they can now do on their own. This was not possible at her parents' house because it is on a slope and her wheelchair is not motorized. Back then, she always needed help from a person when she wanted to leave the house. The traffic light on the way to the park is red, 'Xantho' touches the switch with his nose and sits down next to the wheelchair. “Even if there is no car in sight and I were to ask him to cross the street when the light is red, 'Xantho' would not do that,” Emily explains the dog's behavior. This deliberate refusal to obey orders is an important task for assistance dogs, especially when it comes to the mood and physical condition of their team partner. They usually sense much earlier when the dog is reaching his performance limits or when a pain attack is approaching. Then they ensure – often against the express orders of their owner – that the dog stops the strenuous activity and rests. They simply refuse to serve him, lie somewhere in his way and force their protégé to stay. Emily has learned to interpret the signs of 'Xantho': “His strength is that he is so sensitive. If my circulation is too bad, for example, he won't let me go to the physio. He blocks my way and insists that I rest. Then I know that if I go now anyway, the therapist will send me home empty-handed and I will feel even worse physically for the rest of the day.”
In the afternoon, Emily and 'Xantho' go shopping. The supermarket not far from their apartment tolerates the dog in the sales area. Since 2021, trained assistance dog teams have been allowed to enter all public buildings together, including grocery stores, churches or government offices. However, house rules still take precedence over this law. That is why Emily asked for and received permission shortly after moving.
She buys broccoli, apples, cheese casserole and non-alcoholic champagne for a party at a friend's house that she is invited to this evening. She stows the things behind her in the storage compartment of her wheelchair at the cash register. Back home, the two of them rest a little before getting dressed up. The taxi arrives promptly at 7 p.m. and takes them to the party at Emily's friends' house. The young woman cannot stay long, however, because the day was exhausting. Soon 'Xantho' signals that his partner has reached her limit. He becomes restless and keeps running to the exit. Emily sighs: “It's a shame that I have to go already, but 'Xantho' is right, I would feel bad tomorrow if I stayed now. I would be stupid not to listen to him. I owe him so much. I get out a lot more thanks to him, he gives me security and strengthens my self-confidence and he ensures that I can live relatively independently.”
Series on assistance and rescue dogs: Area search dogs – barking until help arrives