New Therapy Dog Program Opens Up Emotional Learning Paw-sibilities For Students
There’s a reason dogs are “man’s best friend,” and those reasons are being put to work in a new program debuting at Hodgenville Elementary School. HES’s newest honorary staff member is Clover, a pup on a mission to bring joy and smiles to students and staff alike.
However, Clover is more than a cute dog; she has qualifications to be a member of the school staff. Like many other working dogs, Clover is certified and trained. She completed training at Pawsibilities Unleashed in Frankfort, an AKC-recognized therapy dog organization.
For HES school counselor Jennifer Price, Clover is a good luck charm for students and teachers alike.
“She may greet kids at the car line, halls, or office in the mornings,” Price said. “She walks around the building just to say hi to them and make them smile. She goes into classes while I do my classroom counseling lessons.”
The Ulti-mutt Emotional Educational Learning Tool
Clover plays an integral role in the focus to teach students social and emotional learning. Price said she got the idea several years ago from a breakout session at the KY School Counselor Association Conference. This initiative is part of LaRue County Schools’ Strategic Plan to help students develop the tools they need to succeed outside of the classroom while learning to manage, process, and understand emotions. Teaching empathy, emotional processing, and understanding has been shown to improve leadership skills, focus in the classroom, and boost creativity in students and adults alike.
What students struggle to say to each other or express to adults, they can practice saying to Clover. Why? Because, as any dog owner will be quick to tell you, dogs just get it.
“This month's focus has been on “Trust” so it has been easy to work her in and use her as part of the lesson,” Price said. “She has helped calm crying kids, brought down an out-of-control kid. She has [also] listened to kids read books.”
Even though she’s only at the school three days a week, Clover is already a celebrity in the halls.
“Some kids just want to stop by and say hi so they can start their day off right,” Price said. “There are several adults in the building who gravitate towards her too. Her just being there makes others smile, so that in itself makes for a better day.”
The Science Behind Puppy Power
Those smiles are indicative of a much larger trend. From elementary schools to college classrooms, dogs are taking on a larger role in education — and not just because they’re cute. With 1 in 6 youths aged 6-17 experiencing mental health issues each year according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, dogs can play a part in improving the lives of students.
Those aren’t “touchy-feely” anecdotes; data from a variety of studies show the tie between mental and physical health. The American Heart Association noted in a 2019 study that engaging with dogs regularly (either through ownership or play) reduces stress and increases serotonin, which leads to reduced risks of cardiovascular issues. In a comprehensive analysis of studies from 50 years of data, dog ownership was associated with a 24% risk reduction for all-cause mortality as compared to nonownership. Exposure to dogs was also shown to have similar effects.
Simply put, Clover is helping her human friends feel better mentally and physically. Price mentioned more plans for Clover coming soon.
“She’ll soon be used as a reward for kids to be able to buy (using Hawk Bucks) time to read to her or have her come to class so they can read. I will use her in my small groups after fall break,” Price said.