Wellbeing dogs are becoming a popular addition to classrooms, offering unique opportunities to enhance the educational experience. Their presence has been shown to reduce stress, promote inclusivity, and foster a positive atmosphere where students feel supported and engaged. 

At Dogs Connect, we all have an extensive teaching background and now work with hundreds of schools across Australia. We often receive inquiries about how to effectively involve wellbeing dogs in classroom activities, as their inclusion can create both fun and meaningful teaching and learning opportunities. From providing emotional support to serving as a calming influence, these dogs can be seamlessly integrated into lessons to strengthen interpersonal skills, encourage collaboration, and even reinforce curriculum content.

For educators looking to get started, the Dogs Connect Teaching & Learning Model is an excellent foundational resource. This model provides structured guidance on how to incorporate wellbeing dogs into lessons in a way that aligns with educational goals and student development. Whether it’s integrating the dog to facilitate social & emotional learning, reading program or teaching responsibility, the model ensures the dog’s wellbeing remains a priority while maximising their positive impact in the classroom. By thoughtfully integrating wellbeing dogs, schools can create a dynamic learning environment that supports both academic and personal growth.

Schools can incorporate wellbeing dogs into teaching and learning by ensuring their inclusion is thoughtful and considerate of the wellbeing dogs’ needs and welfare. This means providing the dogs with choice in their participation, avoiding overstimulation and creating a respectful environment that prioritises their comfort. Overexposure should be minimised, allowing the dogs to have regular breaks and rest times to recharge. Reciprocal interactions are essential, where the dog’s wellbeing is valued as much as the benefits they bring to students. By fostering a positive and balanced environment, schools can include wellbeing dogs to enhance learning experiences, teach empathy and promote emotional resilience among students.

Here we explore creative and effective teaching ideas designed to enhance learning while fostering emotional wellbeing:

Reading Sessions

  • Reading Buddies: Have students take turns reading aloud to the dog. This can help build reading confidence, especially for reluctant readers.
  • Storytime with the Dog: Create a special storytime session where the teacher reads a book featuring dogs, encouraging students to connect the story with their classroom dog.

Social-Emotional Learning

  • Emotional Regulation: Teach students techniques to calm themselves by patting or sitting quietly with the dog, which can help reduce anxiety and stress.
  • Emotional Literacy: Encourage students to observe the dog’s body language to understand emotions, such as wagging tails for happiness or lowered ears for nervousness, and then relate these cues to human emotions.
  • Conversational skills: A group activity where students share stories about their interactions with the dog, encouraging listening and turn-taking.
  • Relationship building: Pair students to collaboratively walk or care for the dog, teaching cooperation and mutual support.
  • Social Cohesion: Create group projects, such as designing a care plan or writing a story featuring the dog, that unify students around a common goal.

Responsibility and Care

  • Wellbeing Assessment: Learning how to note observational details related to the state of being of the dog.
  • Pet Care Routines: Assign students specific tasks related to the dog’s care, such as feeding, grooming, or walking (if appropriate). Rotate responsibilities to give all students a chance to participate.
  • Daily Journal: Have students keep a daily journal about the dog’s activities, behaviour and their own feelings and interactions with the dog.

 Interactive Learning

  • Math Lessons: Dog heart rate exercises – monitor and calculate variations according to a range of stimulus. 
  • Use the dog’s toys or treats for counting exercises, addition and subtraction.
  • Science Lessons: Teach about animal biology, behaviour and health. Discuss the dog’s breed, diet and anatomy.

Creative Activities

  • Art Projects: Encourage students to draw or create art projects inspired by the dog. This could include portraits, sculptures, or crafting dog-related accessories.
  • Creative Writing: Assign creative writing tasks where students write stories or poems about the dog or adventures featuring the dog as a character.
  • Song and video production.

Physical Activity

  • Active Breaks: Engage with your wellbeing dog as part of physical activity breaks. Have students participate in short, supervised play sessions with the dog, incorporating movement and exercise.
  • Outdoor Learning: If possible, take the dog and students outside for nature walks. Use this time to teach about the environment and the importance of physical activity.

Mindfulness and Relaxation

  • Mindfulness Exercises: Conduct mindfulness exercises with the dog present. Teach students to focus on their breathing and the calming presence of the dog.
  • Quiet Time: Designate a quiet corner where students can spend time with the dog during free periods to relax and unwind.

Behavioural Support

  • Positive Reinforcement: Include your wellbeing dog to model positive behaviour reinforcement. Show how positive reinforcement can encourage good behaviour in both dogs and humans.
  • Conflict Resolution: Teach conflict resolution by discussing how the dog interacts with others and resolving any minor disputes about the dog’s care or attention.
  • Attendance: Create a morning walking group with your wellbeing dog, incorporate them into a play group or involve your wellbeing dog into the morning bus drop off.
  • Transition: Students can assist with the transition of the wellbeing dog from class to class, letting them walk the dog once they have established an Authentic Connection.

Community Building

  • Create a name, logo or slogan that represents the dog and fosters a sense of community and belonging.
  • Team-Building Activities: Organise group activities and games that involve the dog, promoting teamwork and cooperation among students.

Special Projects and Events

  • Dog-Themed Events: Host special events like “Dog Appreciation Day” where students can bring in dog-related items, share stories about their pets, and celebrate the classroom dog.
  • Charity Projects: Engage in charity projects related to animal welfare, such as organising a fundraiser for a local animal shelter or creating care packages for pets in need.

Incorporating a wellbeing dog into your classroom is a transformative approach to teaching that nurtures emotional growth, reduces stress, and enhances student engagement. By using the strategies and activities shared in this blog, you can create a more inclusive, supportive, and dynamic learning environment. Whether it’s fostering mindfulness, encouraging collaboration, or simply bringing smiles to your students’ faces, a wellbeing dog can make a lasting impact. 

Let’s embrace the positive potential wellbeing dogs bring to education and continue building classrooms where everyone thrives!