does your child's school have a therapy dog?

[listsandbudgets]

I've just had an email saying the school has "engaged" a therapy dog to come in 3 days a week and would DD like to spend some time with it.

She loves dogs and can get very anxious so happy to give it a try but just wondered if anyone had any views / experience.

Our school has a school dog I don’t think it’s a therapy dog though just one of the teachers 🤷‍♀️

DD's school had a dog in their 'inclusion unit' which DD found very relaxing when stressed. I think it just belonged to one of the staff members in the unit.
Generally DD finds stroking animals helps a lot with her (clinically diagnosed) anxiety.

My DCs' primary school has a dog which is a trained therapy dog and kids can come and spend time with it.

It seems to me to work well. I love dogs though, so it would have been my dream when I was at school!

This could be interpreted in more than one way!! I am guessing you mean the dog belongs to the teacher though

Our school does, but mine have not had contact with her.

Just read it back oops 🤣🫣

My DDs school has one, but it's a special school. Unfortunately she hates dogs so it's of no benefit for her whatsoever!

Ours does, it’s a lovely Labrador and the children (and staff) get a lot from it.

i was in a meeting with ds last term with the senco and the dog could sense Ds was stressed so went and placed her head in his lap.

My sister is a Head of year in a secondary school and has just been through the process of having her (lovely!) dog accredited so she can bring him in to work with some of the kids. I think it sounds really lovely idea.

It’s not unusual for a school to have cats or dogs.
My dds school has all manner of animals, even a tortoise who’s about 100 years old.

Thanks everyone - I'm convinced - I will sign her up for therapy dog :) I really hope it will help keep her calm.

Apparently dog not allowed in chemistry labs (in case it gets chemicals on it) canteen for health and safety reasons and art room in case it walks across wet paint - otherwise, it is allowed all over the school :)

One has a dog in the support room. DD really likes him.
The other school has "therapy" guinea pigs 😍.

Ours does too. The kids can read with him or just stroke him. Its part of the pastoral care programme which I think is wonderful.

Ours has a school dog - she’s not specifically a therapy dog but apparently she is a good listener and loves to be cuddled and walked!

Our primary school had a full-time therapy dog. It was wonderful for DD. She needed to see the counselor fairly regularly. The dog helped her relax and look at it as a treat.

Slightly off topic, but my DD's social worker has a dog who she brings when she visits. It's fab, they take the dog for a walk and DD will open up and chat much better than if they were just sitting at home.

Our school is very dog friendly and loads of teachers bring their dogs to school and they sit in classes and help the kids out with their snacks. They also have chickens and Guinea pigs, one teacher even brings her donkeys in every so often and they stick their heads in to the classrooms and the kids walk them around the playground. Parents can take dogs all over the school too inside and out so dogs are everywhere and the kids love it.

Ours has, well it's just a teacher's dog but they use her for therapy. The reluctant readers read to her and anyone who's feeling upset can go for a cuddle. I think it's lovely.