Bring Your Dog to Work Day

Posted on June 21 2019

Friday 21 June is National Bring Your Dog To Work Day and this year, Forest Park decided to get involved!

Many scientific studies have concluded that the presence of pets can substantially reduce a person’s stress level and boost morale and productivity.  Indeed a recent report in Australia on schools that use therapy dogs highlighted that children experienced increased motivation for learning, resulting in improved outcomes. 

Therapy dogs can also be used to support children with social and emotional learning needs, which in turn can assist with literacy development.

Research into the effects of therapy dogs in schools is showing a range of benefits including:

• increase in school attendance

• gains in confidence

• decreases in learner anxiety behaviours resulting in improved learning outcomes, such as increases in reading and writing levels

• positive changes towards learning and improved motivation, and

• enhanced relationships with peers and teachers due to experiencing trust and unconditional love from a therapy dog. This, in turn, helps students learn how to express their feelings and enter into more trusting relationships.

Whilst our visitors aren't trained therapy dogs the children have thoroughly enjoyed having them in school today and it's certainly been a very productive day!