The school’s best friend?
On the positive effects of Assistance dogs in schools
By Dr Phil Coombs, EdD, MSW, MA, BsC (hons.) PGCE Lecturer in Education Studies, Education Psychology and Counselling
I never liked dogs; in fact, I was terrified of them as a child. I don’t like them bounding towards me, the dog spitand saliva over my hands and clothes, I don’t like their panting or the way they bark. I am terrified of the barking and the threat implied. I know it is the owners and not the dogs but when you are frightened it is not the dog, not on the leash so much as the fear that closes me down, not fight or flight as freeze that gets me.
And to admit that in a country of dog lovers it is a sacrilege with an estimated 12 million dogs in the UK (https://www.dogster.com), even writing such a statement makes me worried about the response and reaction. Dogs have become glamourized accessories, and electoral assets with politicians of every party now taking them along for the ubiquitous photo opportunity at the polling booth. I recall that very moving photo of former President Bush’s Snr. dog sitting patiently aside his casket his loyal companion even in death. As a child growing up my father was also terrified of them, he still is. When walking in public parks he keeps a walking pole ready at hand just to shoo that inquisitive sniffer away.
So, when I was in a school recently that used working support dogs around children, I was forced to confront some of my earlier childhood anxieties. Given the only pet we could look after when I was at school during the half term holidays were prehensile stick insects, even I can see this as an improvement. For me, the very thought of being near dogs causes me to stop and think. To reflect about my own anxiety around animals and dogs particularly. To give the reader that is generous enough to allow me the space to share my anxiety about dogs some hope without immediately assuming the worst they might be reassured to know that as a lecturer in Education Psychology and Counselling I knew that I had to do something about the phobia.
With an estimated 7, 000 people partnered with Assistance dogs in the UK (https://www.dogster.com) this school now employs working dogs to help combat feelings of anxiety, isolation and as a boost to children’s self–esteem and well-being. Feeling only slightly braver now, I invited my students to come with me to learn all about the training and handling of support dogs through a local charity Support Dogs. The results are incredible. The cost of training these support dogs is incredible, it takes 2 years to train, an eye watering £23, 000 each, before they venture into schools and settings working with children. You can see why, the command that the handlers hold over the dogs is equally remarkable, an almost invisible look and a raise of the eyebrow seems to bring the dogs to heel and the impact not just on me, on my student teachers and the children in schools is compelling evidence for donating generously the next time you see someone from the Dogs Trust waving a tin near you. Please give generously because these dogs save lives. The handlers at the charity we used told us that the dogs can detect a change in their owners’ metabolism an hour minutes before they have an epileptic seizure (https://www.supportdogs.org.uk/), enough time to make a life-saving visit to A & E. In one case a working support dog fetched medical help to an adult with autism who had become disoriented, confused, and even unwittingly attacked the dog believing it to be a threat.
That said, I was also conscious that I might not have been entirely alone, looking around the room I noticed many students missing, a lot of students and many predominantly from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds had also decided to stay away, so whilst I’m wholly in favour I’m also mindful that there might still be little children in schools now that share my apprehension. Be kind to the (seventies) child and dog alike.
For further information visit: -
Support Dogs for autism, epilepsy, for disability
https://www.supportdogs.org.uk/
