Support Dog Pack

Our pack is comprised of dogs that have been selected, trained, and tested to provide students with a comforting friend, and a safe place, under the direction and control of a handler who works with the dog as a team. Currently, there are 8 dogs that make up our Pack. We are all either trained as a therapy dog or a facility dog.

Therapy and facility dogs within school settings have been found to increase student’s well being by:

• Reducing physiological symptoms of stress through lowering cortisol levels

• Increasing positive emotions

• Promoting engagement in learning activities and positive attitudes toward learning

• Reducing negative behaviors (i.e. anxiety, task avoidance and aggression in the classroom)

• Encouraging prosocial behaviors (e.g. self-esteem, motivation) and acting as a “social catalyst” to facilitate social interactions with others