26 August 2024
The “Pattegäng” project, launched in February 2024 by SALU’s Streetwork service in collaboration with the PatteClub, offers free dog training courses to homeless people or living in precarious conditions.
This initiative aims to improve the quality of life of the beneficiaries and their dogs, while meeting a growing demand for appropriate support. Thanks to the participation of the PatteClub, dog training courses are now offered every fortnight, either at Kinnekswiss Park or in the city, to confront the owners and their dogs with real-life situations.
The Pattegäng project was born out of a field observation by the SALU Streetwork team. Christian, a qualified educator, explains: “We noticed that there were a lot of homeless people with dogs, and this also met a demand from our beneficiaries”.
Emergency structures and night shelters, such as the Wanteraktioun (WAK) or the Nightshelter, have already put in place solutions to welcome people with their dogs.
However, there was a lack of specific support for the training of dogs belonging to homeless people or living in precarious conditions. These dogs play a crucial role in the lives of their owners, providing invaluable companionship and often emotional and physical security. However, without access to dog training courses, owners can find it difficult to manage their pets’ behaviour effectively, which can complicate their already precarious daily lives.
Since the project was launched, three to five people have been taking part in these courses on a regular basis, despite the unforeseen circumstances of life on the streets.
Sara, social worker at SALU Streetwork, emphasises the importance of this initiative: “Faced with this situation, some of our beneficiaries asked us if there were any affordable or free dog training courses. As we couldn’t find anything like this available, we decided to organise a free course with the help of partners such as PatteClub.”
Anna-Lena, a qualified dog trainer, shares her enthusiasm for the project: “There are often preconceptions about the way these people look after their animals. I found it rewarding to be able to meet them, see how they interact with their dogs, and give them practical advice“. The dog training courses have already shown beneficial effects. Participants learn to communicate better with their dogs, fostering a relationship based on trust and understanding. The dogs are now calmer and more obedient, which reduces tension in the street and improves the perception of passers-by.
Thanks to this initiative, beneficiaries can better manage their pets, avoiding problematic behaviour and strengthening their emotional bond with them. The Pattegäng project shows that, despite the daily challenges, it is possible to provide support and practical solutions to those who need it most.
My name is Dimitri, and this is my third time at the dog classes. I’m already used to living with dogs thanks to friends who have them, so I don’t hesitate to ask questions about their behaviour. I’m also here to meet up with friends and exchange experiences. What’s more, I’m having problems with the police who think I’m mistreating my dog, so these courses are an opportunity for me to show that I’m taking good care of him. I’ve had all the necessary vaccinations at the Association luxembourgeoise de protection des animaux (ALPA).
In general, I try to stay out of trouble and make sure my dog doesn’t cause any problems. Every Sunday, a lady brings food, which has helped me a lot. I’ve been living outside for several years now, but despite everything, I’m still in good spirits. My dog is a sweetheart, even if she wakes me up at 5am every morning.
My name is Kevin and my dog’s name is Beni. Beni is a real little child: he’s full of energy, loves to play and run around, and he’s very intelligent. I take an active part in the classes, and I’ve really noticed a big difference. Beni’s calmer now, he listens better, and that’s a real improvement.
My aim with the lessons is to teach Beni to walk properly on a leash. In town, this is necessary, although it’s still a challenge for him. He accepts the leash better now, although it was a real problem at first. Beni is not at all aggressive; he ignores or plays with other dogs.
For me, Beni isn’t just a dog, he’s like a child. I do everything with him and he’s always by my side. Once, at the lake in Echternach, Beni doesn’t like the water but ran towards my friend to get her out of the lake when she put her feet in the water. It was the first time he’d dared to go in the water, although he didn’t go back in afterwards!
Copyright photos Olivier Minaire
More information on our partner PatteClub
