01/09/2023
I hear far too many times of people - often schools admittedly - and establishments deciding to bring a dog or worse still, a puppy into them to have a so-called "Therapy Dog" or School Therapy Dog.
In the UK it is unregulated and as a result fraught with risks when not thought through properly. This is not something to be done lightly or planned over a few weeks. This takes teamwork & a lot of training, planning and preparation!
Please think twice and consider who you consult before embarking on such projects.
We want to address a recent incident that has raised concerns within our community. SafeWork NSW is currently investigating a serious incident involving a school support dog at a NSW school.
Canine Comprehension has long been concerned about the ethics and safety of full-time school support dogs. We'd like to discuss the difference between how such dogs are managed compared to our Therapy Dogs.
The safety and well-being of students and staff have always been paramount to us. We're deeply saddened by this incident and want to highlight why we focus on dog-assisted therapy intervention programs instead of endorsing school support dogs.
Here are key reasons why Canine Comprehension prefers schools to use our therapy dogs for incursions:
Scheduled Breaks: Our therapy dogs work for a maximum of one hour before having a break, ensuring they remain refreshed and stress-free.
Diverse School Environment: Our dogs move between schools, allowing them downtime between trips to reduce stress.
Professional Assessment: Our therapy dogs are highly trained and continually assessed for stressors by our experienced mentors who closely monitor them.
Guidelines for Interaction: We have strict guidelines to prevent incidents, such as not allowing individuals to put two hands around the dog, ensuring the dog always has the choice to leave any interaction.
In addition, we've observed "near misses" with school support dogs, including signs of stress, barking, and discomfort. Our CEO has met with school leadership of those schools to raise awareness about the potential dangers of overstressed or mismanaged support dogs in school settings. However, if a school chooses to include a support dog, they must manage it with a careful, whole-school approach, including handler and dog time release and professional development.
We are committed to maintaining the highest standards in the safety and well-being of everyone in our therapy dog school programs. If you have questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.
Thank you for entrusting Canine Comprehension - Dog Assisted Learning with your students' well-being.
Warm regards,
The entire CC team.
