Research on dogs in SEN settings to reduce anxiety

[KellyGoTo]

Afternoon.
I hope you are all well and staying safe. While in lockdown I have been trying to complete my dissertation. While working from home, homeschooling (not massively successful) and trying to stay sane.

I was wondering if any of you would be so kind as to help me with my research...

Do you think that having a dog on site of an SEN school can help to reduce children's anxiety in particular when they are new to the school, eg. new year 7 students?

Many thank for your help.

It would raise ds2's anxiety a lot as he is not at all comfortable around dogs at least at the beginning. A plus might be if the school had one that might help him overcome his anxiety. They have them at Queen Alexandra College in Birmingham which started off as a college for the blind but them broadened to meet other needs such as ASC if you need an example for your project.

DS1 is severely allergic to dogs and it is one of the reasons we can't find a suitable SS for him.

I think it would be a huge help for some students. My son is currently annoying his principal, trying to convince her they need a school dog. Dogs are his special interest at the moment, he would love this. He goes to a tutoring school that has a well trained, gentle old poodle and my son adores her. The dog has been great for soothing anxious kids and was a big draw for getting my son to go back each week.

There’s a dog I’m my daughters SEN school and he’s been an amazing support in getting my DD into school when she’d basically dropped out in year 8. She use to go in on a Friday afternoon just to play ball with him.
He’s used a lot for ones with anxiety but there’s a lot to consider when taking a dog onto a school site.
I know the Dogs Trust no longer take live dogs in in our area, they use a stuffed (toy!) dog for visits and demonstrations now.
The risk assessment needs to consider known and unknown allergies, anxiety, etc.
The dog needs a quite place to go and an adult with it at all times, unless crated or in its secure quiet place.
You also need to look at getting the dog assessed by a professional- and not many do this now.
Obviously it’s training and temperament are key. Ours was a failed guide dog that had an amazing temperament and done A LOT of training.
And it’s diet - there’s something in the risk assessment for ours about it’s raw diet and the possibility of passing on something (sorry can’t remember the details!).
Plus where it goes to the toilet, who takes it, when, who clears up, stopping children from playing there.
Then there’s who owns it - can’t be the school because staff leave and it could end up with staff who don’t really want it. But if it’s a staff member, they could leave and take it with them so tears all around !
Who has it in the holidays ? Who stays home with it when it’s sick ? Who pays for everything?
Lots to consider but when it works, it works well !

I don't understand why everyone assumes dogs (or other animals) are good for all children will SEN and anxiety.

There's a dog at my DD's specialist school and it actually INCREASES her anxiety. She has sensory processing difficulties and is terrified of dogs as they can be loud, unpredictable, smelly and hairy. My DS is also terrified of dogs for similar reasons.

And it's not like they haven't been exposed to dogs, I'm from a dog loving family and they see my family's dogs every week!