Wellbeing and Dogs in the Library!

Small groups of Uni High students and staff had a great day in the library facilitated by our wellbeing team and two beautifully serene therapy dogs from Canine Comprehension, a dog-assisted program which aims to support students' mental health and well-being. 

The presence of the dogs, River and Ness, and their talented owner/program facilitator Sarah Mcdonald allowed students to explore strategies to assist with anxiety, mindfulness, social skills and verbal communication. 

Some highlights of the program for students (apart from patting and brushing the dogs ofcourse!) included learning: 

‘Correct hand signals for the dogs’

‘Rectangle breathing and that the pups are trained to respond to different tones’

‘Communicating without talking and how tone affects what you say’

‘How to communicate better and how to take a minute to calm’

‘That I can get through things’ and ‘How to treat negative things positively’

All in all the day was a wonderful experience for students and staff. The library provided a perfect space for all those present to enjoy the calming presence of therapy pups. 

To learn more about Canine Comprehensions and their individual tutoring programs see here: https://www.caninecomprehension.com.au/

Caitlin Croucher - School Counsellor