Dogs Connect program putting dogs in the classroom to improve mental health in school communities

Bendigo Community Health Services is improving mental health in school communities through a partnership with Dogs Connect to introduce dogs to classrooms.

The School Focused Youth Service based at our Kangaroo Flat site is another partner in the project.

Dogs Connect improves school culture by using dogs to help students cope with negative emotions, be calmer, happier and achieve better learning.

The Dogs Connect program is now working with 10 regional Victorian schools after launching in 2015.

Dogs Connect founder Grant Shannon said introducing a dog into school teaching and learning practices developed social and emotional skills for students and staff.

“We are excited to continue our work with Bendigo Community Health Services to introduce more dogs into schools to support students’ emotional and social well-being, and to ultimately lead to improved engagement and learning outcomes,” he said.

Bendigo Community Health Services spokesperson Anne-Marie Kelly said the program was achieving good results.

“We have received such encouraging feedback from schools about the positive changes the dogs are bringing for not only the students but for the teacher and the school culture as a whole,” Anne-Marie said.

School Focused Youth Service co-ordinator Paul Taylor said school wellbeing leaders were reporting remarkable stories of interactions between the dogs and students.

"A young secondary student undergoing treatment for cancer attended school even when ill to make sure she had the opportunity to interact with the dog. Other reports mention students that have struggled with self-regulation and remaining in class beyond 20 minutes are now completing tasks and remaining in class for entire two-hour blocks when the dog has been in his classroom," Paul said.

"We are seeing reports showing the program is giving students an understanding what empathy is and how it relates to relationships with others, a knowledge of their heart rate when focused and relaxed and having strategies to regulate emotions and explain how they're feeling to others.

"All the staff at the schools involved so far have been amazed at the impact the dogs have had on the school communities."

Learn more about Dogs Connect and watch videos of the dogs in action: http://www.dogsconnect.net.au/

Learn more about Dogs Connect and watch videos of the dogs in action: http://www.dogsconnect.net.au/