1. The Benefits of Animals as Therapy. 2. The Decision to use a Puppy. 3. Top Tips for Choosing your Puppy. 4. Introducing your Puppy to School. 5. Practical Issues and Finances. 6. The Puppy's Intended Remit in School. 7. Doodles' Success - Extra Curricular. 8. Doodles with the Children - Case Studies. 9. The Unexpected Benefits of Doodles. 10. How Doodles is used in Lessons. 11. Other Therapy Dogs. 12. Mischievous Doodles. 13. Future Plans.
Animals can help school children cope with a range of physical and mental health challenges, as well as develop social and interpersonal skills. This concise guide provides all the necessary information to introduce a therapy dog into your school.
Structured around the author's experience of introducing her school's therapy puppy Doodles, it gives invaluable advice to teachers and school management interested in Assisted Animal Therapy, such as how to choose the best dog and how to introduce it to staff, children and parents. Various success stories are shared, revealing both expected and surprising benefits that can accompany a therapy dog.
Suitable for both special education and mainstream settings, this book offers everything you need to welcome a therapy dog into a school environment.