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Dogs in Schools
Introduction
The presence of dogs in schools is becoming increasingly frequent as the potential benefits of children’s interaction with pets of all species, but particularly dogs, is more widely recognised and promoted in some quarters. The popularity of dogs in society also makes it more likely that parents at the school gates will be accompanied by their canine family members, while local dog owners may try to use school grounds to exercise their pets, without consideration for the safety or health of others.
These circumstances will undoubtedly introduce risks that will need to be evaluated and appropriately controlled by the school’s governors and management team, and it begins with clarifying the reasons and purpose for having dogs on school premises and what is to be gained.
Thought will need to be given to risk assessing what category of dog(s) are being considered for introduction as well as those that may already be present. For example:
- Do some students or staff with disabilities have an Assistance dog (sometimes referred to as a ‘Service dog’) to accompany them and perform specific tasks to help? These dogs and their owners are usually highly trained and qualified by one of the charitable organisations registered as members of Assistance Dogs UK.
- Is there a need for a Therapy dog? This is a general term often used to describe a dog that is used to benefit people in a therapeutic way. This incorporates quite a wide range of potential activities and an equally wide range of potential people.
Some of these dogs take part in short periodic visits with their volunteer owner / handler to provide educational support opportunities such as the Kennel Club Foundation’s ‘Bark and Read’ initiative, working with individuals or small groups of children with reading etc. Whilst other dogs take part in more structured activities as part of a therapeutic programme or practice, where a trained therapist / handler will often work with the dog to provide comfort and re-assurance to a child who is anxious, withdrawn, or lacking self-confidence, or who perhaps needs additional emotional or behavioural support following a traumatic life event such as bereavement.
In the UK therapy dogs are not considered to be assistance dogs – this is because an assistance dog is legally permitted to accompany its client, owner, or partner, at all times and in all places. A therapy dog does not have these same legal privileges.
- School dogs are becoming quite common particularly in junior schools with the aim of providing a calming or harmonious influence that children (and sometimes the staff) can focus on to reduce classroom anxiety and stress levels. These dogs are usually owned by one of the staff members and have varying degrees of training.
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