What are therapy
dogs?
Therapy dogs are not service dogs. Service dogs focus on
their owner to the exclusion of all else.
The role of the therapy dog is to react and respond to people and their
environment, under the guidance and direction of their owner/supervisor. For
example, an individual might be encouraged to gently pat or talk to a dog to
teach sensitive touch and to help them be calm.
Why have a therapy
dog in a school environment?
Extensive research points to the benefits of such a program for all involved. The human-animal bond can impact people and animals in positive ways; therapy dogs can reduce stress physiologically (cortisol levels) and increase attachment responses that trigger oxytocin – a hormone linked to trust building. It is widely documented that, in order for children to learn, physiological and psychological needs (security, safety, relationships) must be met first. Therapy dogs can assist with meeting these needs.
HOW WILL OUR THERAPY
DOG BE UTILISED AT SCARBOROUGH PS?
Our complete focus for this program is on the benefit that
such a resource has on our students. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Assisting students who lack confidence with
reading and writing
- Assisting students with socialising, relaxation
and communication
- Providing sensory stimulation to those who need
it, particularly when working on behaviour goals
- Providing a non-judgemental ‘listening ear’ and acceptance of the students
- Helping students to gain awareness of pro-social behaviour in regards to treating others respectfully and considering their needs
The therapy dog will be involved with individual, small
group, class and whole school activities, identified to be of benefit to
students as well as respecting the needs of the dog.
What about students
with allergies to dogs?
Pet allergy sufferers are sensitive to a protein called Can
F1, which is found in a dog’s dander (dead skin flakes), saliva and other
secretions. All dogs have dander, but
some breeds produce fewer allergens or shed less, including poodles. Wilson is
a poodle.
No child will be expected to make contact with the dog unless they want to do so.
What about students
who have a fear of dogs?
No student will be expected to come close to the dog if they
do not feel comfortable. It is worth coming to have a conversation with Erica
about any existing fears.
Therapy dogs can often be used as a good way to work on addressing fears, particularly as we have such a structured way for students to approach and interact with the dog.
It seems very risky
to have a dog in school. What if someone (or the dog) gets hurt?
There certainly are risks involved in bringing an animal
into school. We have worked hard to complete a thorough risk assessment and
have liaised with other schools that have similar programs to ensure we
mitigate risks as much as possible. Our
therapy dog has undergone training specifically designed to teach him how to
interact in a non-home environment with people unknown to him.
The therapy dog will never be unattended whilst at school, and students will learn the safe way to approach him, how to read dog body language and to respect when the dog needs to be left alone.
Why are we getting a
therapy dog now?
There is a growing bank of research that shows a strong connection between the presence of animals and improved academic, social, emotional and behavioural outcomes for students. We have recently been given the opportunity to work with a therapy dog and his owner, both of whom are willing to come and be part of the Scarborough PS community. A second dog has been identified for training that will hopefully be joining us once ready.
Will every student
get to interact with the dog?
Student s will be taught the etiquette for approaching the
therapy dog, which will be out and about in the playground at recess and
lunchtime, when in school. In negotiation with staff, and taking into account
student and dog needs, our therapy dog may well be entering the classrooms
during learning time to listen to readers, help build confidence with public
speaking etc.
Some students will access the therapy dog on an individual or small group basis, as needed.
Who will look after
the dog?
Wilson, our first therapy dog, will initially come into school with his owner, Crystal Timmcke. Crystal is a qualified counsellor and therapy dog handler. As with all of our volunteers, Crystal has a Working with Children card and has also signed a Confidential Declaration. Once Wilson is used to the environment and is trained to work with Erica Salt, he will spend his time with her. Wilson will only be in school for short sessions throughout the week, as negotiated between the owner and school.
What if my child
becomes too attached to the dog?
Forming an attachment with an animal has huge mental health
benefits. Our therapy dog will only be in school for short periods of time
throughout the week but will hopefully be available for all students who are
interested in interacting with him. By not being in school all the time, there
will not be an expectation among the students that he is always around.
Experiencing the presence of a dog at school opens up many
conversations around respect for animals, how to approach unknown animals and
how to care for an animal.
