Our School Dogs
About Pets as Therapy
Pets as Therapy say “PAT Dogs provide comfort, encourage positive social behaviours, enhance self-esteem, motivate speech and inspire young people to have fun.”
There are many benefits to having a Therapy dog in school, these include:
- Emotional – seeing our dogs will improve self-esteem, encourage smiling and laughter.
- Physical – interaction with our dogs can reduce blood pressure and heart rate as she can be a calming influence during times of high anxiety.
- Social – seeing our dogs can provide a positive mutual topic for discussion, promotes greater self-esteem and well-being, and encourage social communication and social interaction.
- Learning – our dogs will eventually be able to listen to pupils reading, they will be able to count with her and tell her all about the learning they are doing in class.
Introducing Nellie
Nellie is an American Bulldog that belongs to Mr Lee. She was born on 24th October 2019. Nellie has completed all her Dog Therapy training and is a fully accredited Therapy Dog. She visits MDC and is really loved by the staff and pupils.
Introducing Finn
Finn is a Bernese Mountain Dog that belongs to Miss Knight. He was born on 4th September 2025. Bernese Mountain Dogs are known for their gentle and calm temperament which is why he is in training to be a school therapy dog. He has already completed his ‘Good Citizen’ puppy training award and is now working towards his bronze Kennel Club award. He visits school (CRC) each week and the children love visiting him and helping him work on his skills.
You might be thinking …
What if my child is allergic to dogs?
It is understandable that families and carers may be concerned about possible allergic reactions to a school dog. Our dogs are groomed daily before they goes to school and they are also professionally bathed and groomed regularly. Pupils will only meet the dogs if they wish to. Children will be shown that after petting the dogs, they will need to wash their hands. Families and carers will be asked to let school know if their child has a known allergy to dogs.
What is my child is scared of dogs?
We totally understand that some children may be scared of dogs (or other animals). The dogs will only meet children for whom we have permission. Our dogs are currently undergoing behaviour training. They will not be allowed to jump up at pupils or run after them. We will work with families and carers to see if small exposure to them may help a child overcome their fear. We will teach all children that they must always ask an owner to pet a dog and ours is no exception (this teaches skills for when children meet dogs out of school and also supports social communication and social interaction within school).
What about the dog’s toileting?
Our dogs have a well-established toilet routine. They are walked before school by their owners and they knows their routine well enough to be confident that they do not ask to go to the toilet during the day. If on an incredibly rare occasion they do have a toileting accident in school, then this will be cleared up immediately and the area disinfected. The staff member will consider why this happened and put in steps to prevent this happening again.
Who is covering the costs of the dog?
Our dogs are 100% owned by their staff owners. All costs for the dogs (food, vet’s fees, Insurance, Pets As Therapy fees) are covered by them as their owner.
Will the school dog be at school every day?
No. The dogs will like some days at home. This is important for them as a dog. The pupils will know when the dogs are in school by a schedule in the school.
I have some other questions …
Feel free to ring or email school or pop in and meet the dogs yourself.