CAI MS Counseling - Therapy Dog

Who is the dog at my child’s school?

Indy is a four year old Mini Goldendoodle certified to work in elementary through high school. When she is not at school, she lives with our School Counselor, Jenny Davison.

What does Indy do at school?

Indy assists the School Counselor, Mrs. Davison in supporting students. She helps students reach goals related to self-esteem, emotional regulation, friendship, attention issues, and many other areas. Indy will accompany Mrs. Davison to classrooms on occasion, but will mostly be in the counselor's office supporting students through individual or group settings as well as building school morale.

Can students touch, hug, or interact with Indy?

When Indy is in the office or working with Mrs. Davison, she is trained to stay on task. Students who come in for individual guidance can request Indy to sit with them and they are welcome to interact with her. If Indy is out with a group of students, it is requested that students do not swarm her by petting or touching her unless otherwise instructed.

I’m worried about allergies. Is that being considered?

Indy’s breed does not shed and is considered hypoallergenic; however, to reduce dander on Indy’s coat, she is properly cleaned before entering the building on a work day. One of Mrs. Davison’s protocols is that students wash their hands after working with Indy. If you have concerns, please contact her directly.

My child is afraid of dogs. What should I do?

Please let Mrs. Davison know if your child has an aversion to dogs. There are several rules that Indy and Mrs. Davison follow at school to ensure that all our students and staff feel safe. That is a primary focus of this program.

What is Indy’s training?

Indy has had several months of training to pass her certification tests to serve as a therapy dog. She will continue to participate in training activities to ensure her skills and behavior is kept at the highest levels. She is an AKC Canine Good Citizen and has been certified as a Therapy Dog through Elite Dog Training.

Mission:

To promote positive mental health, social-emotional learning, and academic achievement through the use of animal assisted therapeutic techniques and the proven beneficial effects of the human/animal bond.

What is a Therapy Dog?

Therapy Dogs are usually a person's own pet dog that the person has qualified to make visits to hospitals, schools, nursing homes, etc. Sometimes health care professionals and teachers incorporate a therapy dog into their work with their clients or students.

Provides emotional support and comfort to people

In public, it is comfortable with a variety of people, situations, and experiences.

A therapy dog lends comfort and affection to people in a facility setting or to certain individuals who require visitation to deal with a physical or emotional problem.

Therapy dogs bring many physical benefits to the humans they visit. They may help lower blood pressure and heart rate, reduce patient anxiety, and increase levels of endorphins and oxytocin.

Benefits For Our Students And Staff

Research has shown that canine assisted therapy has made a positive impact on the academic, physical, social, emotional, and behavioral life of students.

Anxiety and Emotional Issues:

Therapy dogs sit with and provide comfort to students who are experiencing high anxiety. They can accompany students to and from classes to ease transitions. The presence of a therapy dog has proven to “decreases in learner anxiety behaviors resulting in improved learning outcomes, such as increases in reading and writing levels”

Mental Health Support:

“...many educators are using therapy dogs to provide students with cognitive, physiological, and social and emotional support. The practice of using canine assistants in schools for mental health is becoming more widespread, says Matia Finn-Stevenson, a research scientist at Yale University. Having man's best friend around is also boosting morale for students and staff alike.”

“Petting a dog for even a few minutes can positively affect our brain chemistry, according to research, increasing oxytocin levels and reducing the stress hormone cortisol. For kids who have experienced trauma, the dogs can be incredibly comforting.”

Teaching Soft Skills:

Therapy dogs teach empathy and appropriate interpersonal skills. They help students practice skills such as confidence, focus, friendliness, optimism, and responsibility.

Literacy Improvement:

“Among other benefits, reading aloud to dogs has been shown to improve oral reading fluency more than reading to a peer (see "Effects of Reading with Therapy Dog on Elementary Reading Achievement and Attitudes" in Society & Animals). Struggling readers tend to relax around therapy dogs, who offer a nonjudgmental ear, building their confidence and skills over time.”

Behavior And Academic Incentive:

The Therapy Dog may also provide behavior and academic incentive to students. In one Elementary school, “Teachers submit names of students who have done outstanding work or made a really good decision as far as being responsible, respectful, or excelling—which ties into our PBIS model," says VonLintel. As a reward, they might get to take the dog on a walk or teach him a new trick.”