Benefits Of Therapy Dogs In Schools

Feb 25, 2020 | Pets, Tips and Tricks

With Jake and Maggie passing their second TDI test with Thomas as their handler, we can now all volunteer together. I’m so excited because Jake and Maggie are signed up to do some reading classes for the children at two local libraries. What I haven’t been able to do is get them scheduled to volunteer at any schools and universities yet. I think it is so important for the children to see that dogs cannot only be a pet but they can provide comfort when you are nervous or upset. I like knowing that I can help a child understand the love and joy a dog can bring and be able to answer any questions they have. I’ve posted before about the difference between a therapy dog and a service dog but today I want to talk about the benefits of having a dog in schools. Not only can they provide support in school but Universities as well. Studies show that having a dog on campus at scheduled times provides university students a window of time to decompress from the stress of exams or learning to adjust to a new life away from home.

Jake after his first volunteer job!!

Jake is a very laid back dog and I thought he would be perfect at an assisted living facility in West Virginia. He did not disappoint. He was incredibly calm and patient with the nursing staff and patients there and brought many smiles. We were there for about an hour and when we got into the car, he feel asleep almost immediately.

A recent report highlighted children working with therapy dogs experienced increased motivation for learning, resulting in improved outcomes.

Therapy dogs are being used to support children with social and emotional learning needs, which in turn can assist with literacy development.

Research into the effects of therapy dogs in schools is showing a range of benefits including:

• increase in school attendance

• gains in confidence

• decreases in learner anxiety behaviours resulting in improved learning outcomes, such as increases in reading and writing levels. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, one out of every eight teens between the ages of 13 to 18 suffers from some type of anxiety disorder.

• positive changes towards learning and improved motivation

• enhanced relationships with peers and teachers due to experiencing trust and unconditional love from a therapy dog. This in turn helps students learn how to express their feelings and enter into more trusting relationships.

But…there are people who do not support the idea of dogs in classrooms. Not everyone feels the same way as I do. Whether it be they themselves who are afraid of dogs, have allergic reactions to animal dander, or have students who fear dogs, adjustments can be made. I think it is so important for parents to be educated on the dog coming into the classroom and being a volunteer know which child is terribly afraid of dogs. It allows me to be aware of the situation I am putting Jake and Maggie into and can act accordingly. I wouldn’t want to scare a child in any way.

School administrators need to be educated as well on the importance of the dog they are allowing into their school. Administrators should be wary of handlers who use shock collars or other negative training methods because they can stress the dogs and prevent them from bonding with students.

It is also important for the school to have a structured program with goals and objectives for the kids and rules for the therapy volunteers to abide by. Maybe the therapy dog is scheduled to come in on certain days like Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays or is scheduled on a day that has the highest skip rate. Maybe on those days, the kids are encouraged to come in and help with feeding the dog, giving the dog water, or learning how to put the therapy vest and scarf on.

A structured program where everyone understands the importance of a therapy dog, who the therapy dog is, and the goals and objectives set to help enhance a child’s positive and emotional outlook at school is incredibly important for success.

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2 Comments

Carla on February 25, 2020 at 12:50 pm

I love the thought of therapy animals! I hope this idea grows and helps many people with their daily lives ???? Goodluck Jake and Maggie ❤
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- Bobbi on February 25, 2020 at 12:59 pm
  
  Thank you! The TDI classes are always full so hopefully that is a good sign moving forward!
  Reply