Dogs Connect - Sadie

Sadie

Our Wellbeing Dog

Meet Sadie, our much-loved school wellbeing dog! Sadie is a friendly and gentle member of our school community who helps create a calm, supportive environment for students. Her role is to support student wellbeing by providing comfort, helping children feel relaxed, and encouraging positive interactions. Whether she is greeting students in the morning, joining small group activities, visiting classrooms or simply offering a quiet moment for a pat, Sadie helps make our school a welcoming place where everyone feels safe, happy, and ready to learn.

Benefits of having a Wellbeing dog in Schools

Emotional Support and Stress Reduction

Interacting with a dog can help students feel calmer and safer.

Benefits include:

• Reducing stress and anxiety
• Helping students regulate emotions
• Providing comfort during difficult moments
• Supporting students who may struggle to talk about feelings

Simply patting or sitting with the dog can lower stress hormones and create a sense of calm.

Supporting Student Engagement in Learning

Wellbeing dogs can help students feel more confident and motivated in the classroom.

Examples:

• Students reading to the dog to build confidence in reading
• Using the dog as part of reward or motivation programs
• Helping students who are reluctant to attend school feel more comfortable

Dogs provide non-judgmental companionship, which can reduce fear of making mistakes.

Building Social and Communication Skills

Dogs can act as a social bridge between students.

They help students:

• Start conversations
• Practice gentle and respectful behaviour
• Develop empathy and responsibility
• Work together in group activities involving the dog

Improving Whole-School Culture

A wellbeing dog can contribute to a positive school environment by:

• Promoting kindness and respect
• Providing a calm presence during busy times
• Supporting staff wellbeing as well as students