Children, Youth and Environments

Abstract:

This field report describes seven models for incorporating dogs into the school setting. Model one delineates how a special education teacher conducts a weekly dog-training program in her self-contained classroom. Model two explains how a teacher uses her three Labradors to assist in character education lessons, as well as in her special education resource room. Models three and four report how general education teachers have incorporated dogs at the middle and secondary levels. Models five, six and seven depict how school counselors at the elementary and secondary levels have included dogs in their practices. Lastly, the educators illustrated in this article provide suggestions for successfully incorporating a dog.