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Classroom Pets Chatboard

Dog as a classroom pet???

by Rhonda

Sep 29, 2008

We (myself and the other special ed teacher) are wanting to get a classroom pet. We've considered all the obvious animals, guinea pigs, rabbits, hamster, reptiles, fish, bird, and ferrets. Has anyone ever had a dog as a classroom pet? What were your experiences? Do you have any suggestions or ideas? Thanks for your help.

view previous comments

Lola At a reading conference years ago, I attended a session about dog reading buddies. (Sorry, I can't remember the name of the organization.)

Here's the set-up: A volunteer and his/her trained dog would go to the library, in their special spot, for a few hours. Students would come read books to the dog. The dog would have to be very friendly...See MoreAt a reading conference years ago, I attended a session about dog reading buddies. (Sorry, I can't remember the name of the organization.)

Here's the set-up: A volunteer and his/her trained dog would go to the library, in their special spot, for a few hours. Students would come read books to the dog. The dog would have to be very friendly, mature, and able to sit and "look like they are reading." The volunteer would act as the dog's voice, by saying things like "Sammy really liked how you read that. But he needs a little help with this word here." The kids felt less threatened by reading to the dog than reading to a person because the dog wouldn't criticize or point out what they need to work on.

I also remember them saying that dogs have to be healthy, current on all vaccinations, and heavily insured. Even the best dogs could sometimes snap at a child who accidently sits on their tail.

I haven't actually heard of any of my local schools having such a program. I only know what I learned at the session. Does anyone actually have experience with a program such as this?

On 9/29/08, Kellie wrote: > The principal at the elementary that I went to would bring > her dog (a sheltie) to school. It would go with her when she > visited classrooms, and then the dog stayed in the office > with her. The students seemed to really enjoy seeing and > petting the dog. You would just want to make sure that the > students are not allergic, and you might also want to > consider that some children may be afraid of dogs no matter > how big or small the animal is. Another factor to consider > is making sure the dog is comfortable with large numbers of > people and being kept in one room for a certain length of > time. I think it can be a good idea as long as you consider > all the pros and cons that come along with it. Hope this > helped! > > On 9/29/08, Rhonda wrote: >> We (myself and the other special ed teacher) are wanting >> to get a classroom pet. We've considered all the obvious >> animals, guinea pigs, rabbits, hamster, reptiles, fish, >> bird, and ferrets. Has anyone ever had a dog as a >> classroom pet? What were your experiences? Do you have >> any suggestions or ideas? Thanks for your help. >

Oct 5, 2008

Yaklots On 10/05/08, Lola wrote: > At a reading conference years ago, I attended a session about > dog reading buddies. (Sorry, I can't remember the name of the > organization.) > > Here's the set-up: A volunteer and his/her trained dog would > go to the library, in their special spot, for a few hours. > Students would come read books ...See MoreOn 10/05/08, Lola wrote: > At a reading conference years ago, I attended a session about > dog reading buddies. (Sorry, I can't remember the name of the > organization.) > > Here's the set-up: A volunteer and his/her trained dog would > go to the library, in their special spot, for a few hours. > Students would come read books to the dog. The dog would have > to be very friendly, mature, and able to sit and "look like > they are reading." The volunteer would act as the dog's voice, > by saying things like "Sammy really liked how you read that. > But he needs a little help with this word here." The kids felt > less threatened by reading to the dog than reading to a person > because the dog wouldn't criticize or point out what they need > to work on. > > I also remember them saying that dogs have to be healthy, > current on all vaccinations, and heavily insured. Even the > best dogs could sometimes snap at a child who accidently sits > on their tail. > > I haven't actually heard of any of my local schools having such > a program. I only know what I learned at the session. Does > anyone actually have experience with a program such as this? > > Google Therapy Dogs or School Therapy dogs or Therapy Reading Dogs in Schools. This is becoming very widely used and quite beneficial. > > On 9/29/08, Kellie wrote: >> The principal at the elementary that I went to would bring >> her dog (a sheltie) to school. It would go with her when she >> visited classrooms, and then the dog stayed in the office >> with her. The students seemed to really enjoy seeing and >> petting the dog. You would just want to make sure that the >> students are not allergic, and you might also want to >> consider that some children may be afraid of dogs no matter >> how big or small the animal is. Another factor to consider >> is making sure the dog is comfortable with large numbers of >> people and being kept in one room for a certain length of >> time. I think it can be a good idea as long as you consider >> all the pros and cons that come along with it. Hope this >> helped! >> >> On 9/29/08, Rhonda wrote: >>> We (myself and the other special ed teacher) are wanting >>> to get a classroom pet. We've considered all the obvious >>> animals, guinea pigs, rabbits, hamster, reptiles, fish, >>> bird, and ferrets. Has anyone ever had a dog as a >>> classroom pet? What were your experiences? Do you have >>> any suggestions or ideas? Thanks for your help. >>

Oct 14, 2008

Rhonda Our school has three dogs who roam the halls and classrooms. They all belong to a teacher who brings them in each day. We have never had any problems with them. The kids love them and oftentimes, you'll see a dog lying in the hallway and a kid reading to it. The 5th graders have to go through training and apply for a job as a walker/trainer. They h...See MoreOur school has three dogs who roam the halls and classrooms. They all belong to a teacher who brings them in each day. We have never had any problems with them. The kids love them and oftentimes, you'll see a dog lying in the hallway and a kid reading to it. The 5th graders have to go through training and apply for a job as a walker/trainer. They have assigned times to take the dogs out for a quick potty break and walk. It's a very rewarding thing to be chosen as a Trainer. They have to get references, sign a contract, can be fired, go through training, etc.

We also have two bunnies that are in our ISS room. They have been trained to use a litter box and when an upset student comes in, they are allowed to pet or brush them. These are my personal rabbits and they have never been harmed in the five years I've been bringing them. If only I knew everything that's been whispered in their ears from a student.

The dogs have been trained to ignore the rabbits and the rabbits enjoy bothering the dogs if one walks into the room. We also have a school cat who lives upstairs in a room. He's so old that he doesn't prowl the school much but he's been known to find a soft lap to sit on during the day. Allergies were a problem with him for awhile but we've just started leaving him in our resource room (no one is allergic in there). He seems to enjoy it...lots of sun and soft places to sleep.

Our school has been very open to pets. I've got an incubator set up in my room and currently have three 8-day old ducklings running around in a playpen in it. We hatched the eggs after 28 days and two classrooms have adopted them and will go through the interview process to find them new homes.

On 9/29/08, Kellie wrote: > The principal at the elementary that I went to would bring > her dog (a sheltie) to school. It would go with her when she > visited classrooms, and then the dog stayed in the office > with her. The students seemed to really enjoy seeing and > petting the dog. You would just want to make sure that the > students are not allergic, and you might also want to > consider that some children may be afraid of dogs no matter > how big or small the animal is. Another factor to consider > is making sure the dog is comfortable with large numbers of > people and being kept in one room for a certain length of > time. I think it can be a good idea as long as you consider > all the pros and cons that come along with it. Hope this > helped! > > On 9/29/08, Rhonda wrote: >> We (myself and the other special ed teacher) are wanting >> to get a classroom pet. We've considered all the obvious >> animals, guinea pigs, rabbits, hamster, reptiles, fish, >> bird, and ferrets. Has anyone ever had a dog as a >> classroom pet? What were your experiences? Do you have >> any suggestions or ideas? Thanks for your help. >

Oct 17, 2008

cecilia marie fedewa On 10/17/08, Rhonda wrote: > Our school has three dogs who roam the halls and classrooms. > They all belong to a teacher who brings them in each day. We > have never had any problems with them. The kids love them and > oftentimes, you'll see a dog lying in the hallway and a kid > reading to it. The 5th graders have to go through trai...See MoreOn 10/17/08, Rhonda wrote: > Our school has three dogs who roam the halls and classrooms. > They all belong to a teacher who brings them in each day. We > have never had any problems with them. The kids love them and > oftentimes, you'll see a dog lying in the hallway and a kid > reading to it. The 5th graders have to go through training > and apply for a job as a walker/trainer. They have assigned > times to take the dogs out for a quick potty break and walk. > It's a very rewarding thing to be chosen as a Trainer. They > have to get references, sign a contract, can be fired, go > through training, etc. > > We also have two bunnies that are in our ISS room. They have > been trained to use a litter box and when an upset student > comes in, they are allowed to pet or brush them. These are my > personal rabbits and they have never been harmed in the five > years I've been bringing them. If only I knew everything that's > been whispered in their ears from a student. > > The dogs have been trained to ignore the rabbits and the > rabbits enjoy bothering the dogs if one walks into the room. We > also have a school cat who lives upstairs in a room. He's so > old that he doesn't prowl the school much but he's been known > to find a soft lap to sit on during the day. Allergies were a > problem with him for awhile but we've just started leaving him > in our resource room (no one is allergic in there). He seems > to enjoy it...lots of sun and soft places to sleep. > > Our school has been very open to pets. I've got an incubator > set up in my room and currently have three 8-day old ducklings > running around in a playpen in it. We hatched the eggs after > 28 days and two classrooms have adopted them and will go > through the interview process to find them new homes. > > > On 9/29/08, Kellie wrote: >> The principal at the elementary that I went to would bring >> her dog (a sheltie) to school. It would go with her when she >> visited classrooms, and then the dog stayed in the office >> with her. The students seemed to really enjoy seeing and >> petting the dog. You would just want to make sure that the >> students are not allergic, and you might also want to >> consider that some children may be afraid of dogs no matter >> how big or small the animal is. Another factor to consider >> is making sure the dog is comfortable with large numbers of >> people and being kept in one room for a certain length of >> time. I think it can be a good idea as long as you consider >> all the pros and cons that come along with it. Hope this >> helped! >> >> On 9/29/08, Rhonda wrote: >>> We (myself and the other special ed teacher) are wanting >>> to get a classroom pet. We've considered all the obvious >>> animals, guinea pigs, rabbits, hamster, reptiles, fish, >>> bird, and ferrets. Has anyone ever had a dog as a >>> classroom pet? What were your experiences? Do you have >>> any suggestions or ideas? Thanks for your help. >>

May 4, 2017

Reine I agree with that but it depends on what kind of dog it is. It actually helps one's mental health. This site https://pittsburghlandsurveyors.com/as-built-surveys/ also has a lot to offer. Make sure to check it out.

Oct 20, 2022

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