COURSE OUTLINE
NOT JUST A DOG IN THE CLASSROOM.
Unlike therapy dogs, wellbeing dogs work as teaching and learning facilitators to help improve mental health and wellbeing.
Topics that we train teachers to teach with a dog include, empathy, awareness, of others and self, self regulation and reactivity.
IMPROVES CULTURE AND CONNECTEDNESS.
Having a dog as a permanent member of your school community helps students deal with anxiety, trauma, self regulation, resilience, stress management, emotional literacy, mindfulness and sensory processing.
"The wellbeing dog does things I can't do!"
We hear this from so many school staff, just like you.
Reports and data gathered confirms that wellbeing dogs can assist in any situation because they deescalate students (and staff too!)
The 7 Proven Impacts a Wellbeing Dog has on a School
1. Increase connectedness for staff and students in your school community.
2. Decrease anxiety for the majority of staff and students.
3. Help students feel ready to learn when in class with the wellbeing dog.
4. Provides a powerful teaching tool for teachers.
5. Helps build empathy, awareness, and emotional literacy in your school.
6. Teach the entire community how to regulate emotions and reactivity.
7. Help staff and students recognise cues of safety when engaged in interactions.
Here's what schools say about Dogs Connect
Bendigo South East College
Bendigo South East College is a large secondary school in regional Victoria. With support from Bendigo Community Health Services and School Focused Youth Services the school was able to engage the Dogs Connect Full Scale program and introduce Barkley as a permanent member of the school community in 2019.
California Gully Primary School
California Gully Primary School invested in our Full-Scale program in 2018. After assessing the specific needs of the students and staff we sourced and successfully incorporated Milli into the school as a permanent member of the community.
Lightning Reef Primary School
Lightning Reef Primary School engaged the Dogs Connect Full Scale Program. With all Alfie’s attributes, he is the perfect fit for Lightning Reef Primary School!
HOW DO YOU INTRODUCE A WELLBEING DOG INTO A SCHOOL COMMUNITY?
It works in 4 stages
1. Choose the ideal wellbeing dog and learn how to look after it throughout its life.
2. Preparing your dog, home, school and community to be dog-ready
3. Introducing your dog into your school
4. Teaching with your new wellbeing dog to embed social and emotional learning