Dogs Helping Kids

Meet our dogs

Princess Laya - The first DHK dog - Lurcher Cross
Certified School Dog - Semi Retired

Laya has been an integral part of Dogs Helping Kids since it's inception. Laya is a very special dog and DHK would not be where it is today without her unique loveable character, empathy for children and how intuitive she is to teenage moods. She will always work until she gets a smile out of the most withdrawn child/teenager. Laya is a dog in a million!

Type
Laya is a Visiting and Educational School Dog and also specialises in working with and helping teenagers.

Assessment
Laya has passed all the DHK Assessments and helped design the DHK Assessments.

Schools
Laya has visited over 40 schools in the North Devon area and interacted with teenagers from the North Devon College for over 5 years. She continues to help SEBD teenagers. Laya still visits North Devon schools to help educate children on how to stay safe around dogs, responsible dog ownership and kind dog training methods. She loves nothing more than cuddles from children.

Teazel - Labradoodle
Certified School Dog

Teazels very proud owner Gail talks fondly about her - 'I kept home bred Teazel just as I was diagnosed with cancer and had four months to train her before surgery. On my return from two weeks in hospital Teazel seemed to know something was different. She is the most gentle loving dog I have ever lived with. She loves people and is very respectful of children. She loves agility, visiting elderly people in local care home (registered P.A.T. dog), but also laying on the sofa for cuddles!' Teazel has also passed the Kennel Club Good Citizen Award Bronze and Silver.

Type
Teazel is a Visiting School Dog and an Educational School Dog.

Assessment
Teazel has passed all Four DHK Training Assessments, her Library Assessment and her Read Assessment.

Schools
Teazel made her school debut at Southmead Primary School, Braunton, in November 2011. She accompanied Princess Laya to meet and educate Years 3, 4 and 5 on Responsible Dog Ownership, Staying Safe around Dogs (prevent-a-bite), Reading Dog Language and Positive Dog Training. These talks are very interactive and the children were able to meet Teazel and do some training with her. Teazel went back to Southmead School in January 2012, again with Princess Laya, to meet and educate Years 1 and 2. Southmead School hope to have Teazel as their Visiting School Dog once she has passed all six DHK Assessments. Teazel is a star in the making!

Wynona - Alaskan Malamute
Certified School Dog

Wynona's owner, Ruth, who bred her, is very proud of the dog she has become. Ruth says, "Wynona has all the qualities one would want in an Alaskan Malamute and her temperament is second to none. Wynona has been working with Dogs Helping Kids helping teenagers since she was about 8 weeks old. Wynona loves training and learning new things and she really enjoys working with the teenagers when they take part in the hands-on dog training. In her spare time Wynona loves to be working in-the- harness as a sled dog, doing agility, attending dog shows and doing Hug-a-Husky for charity. She is enjoying her school dog training and is looking forward to passing her assessments and working in the school environment."

Type
Wynona is a Visiting School Dog. Since being a puppy, Wynona has worked with and helped teenagers for a number of years.

Assessment
Wynona has passed all Four DHK Training Assessments, her Library Assessment and her Read Assessment.

Schools
Wynona is soon to start working at Forches-Cross Nursery and Primary School in Barnstaple, North Devon.

Dexter - Shoodle
Certified School Dog

Mandy, Dexter's proud owner, says, "Dexter was born in August 2010 and is a Shoodle (Shih Tzu x Poodle). I purposely chose a poodle mix when deciding to bring a puppy into the family as my son suffers from asthma and Dexter's non shedding coat is a huge advantage with my son and indeed around the home in general! As Dexter has been brought up in a family home, he adores children, people and other dogs. His tail is continuously wagging and he is always eager to please and to learn new tricks. Dexter is an intelligent and very friendly bundle of fluff. He loves his walks as well as his snuggles and cuddles and he puts a smile on the face of whoever meets him."

Type
Dexter is a Visiting School Dog

Assessment
Dexter has passed all Four DHK Training Assessments, his Library Assessment and his Read Assessment.

Schools
Dexter will soon be working at Barnstaple Library, North Devon, helping local children with their reading.

Kym - Cavipoo
Certified School Dog

Gill, Kym's owner, talks adoringly about her little dog - 'Kym is a little dot with bags of personality. She adores people and just wants to be with you all the time. Kym was born in August 2010, bred locally within an amazing family. The breeder keeps the dogs in the heart of her family; they whelp in her bedroom and are then moved into the living area. There are 6 children who all interact with the puppies. I believe this produces well adjusted, fun loving dogs. Kym is quick to learn new tricks but there is nothing she likes better than to snuggle up in the evening.'

Type
Kym is a Visiting School Dog

Assessment
Kym has passed all Four DHK Training Assessments, her Library Assessment and her Read Assessment.

Schools
Kym will soon be working at Barnstaple Library, North Devon, helping local children with their reading.

Willow - Boxer x Collie
Trainee School Dog

Willow's owner, Jacqui, who loves her to bits says, 'Willow is a really good-natured and happy dog whose tail never seems to stop wagging. She was rescued from Ireland when she was a puppy and is half collie and half boxer. This makes her very intelligent but also incredibly soppy. Willow is also extremely playful and sociable and wants to makes friends with everyone she meets.'

Type
Willow is training to be a Visiting School Dog

Assessment
Willow has passed her first and third DHK Assessments.

Winston - West Highland White Terrier
Trainee School Dog

Winston goes into school two or three times a week. Whenever he sees his school coat he starts bouncing around excited that he is going into school. Winston belongs to Jan Reid, the head teacher and he has a settle blanket and a soft kennel in her office. When he moves around the school he is still on his lead. The children call to take him for walks at break & lunch times and the school have rotas for the children as he is very popular. The children have been taught to tell Winston to go down if he tries to jump up, and also to stroke him under his chin.Winston has also made a couple of trips to the school library when small groups of children are listening to a story. Winston is learning to settle with these children. The children at the school adore Winston, they will go to the office, ask if Winston is in school today and they all say hello to him and forget that the Jan is around. The school have already witnessed children who were originally frightened of him, able to come over and be much closer and in some instances have taken him for walks and stroked him.

Type
Winston is training to be an Attending School Dog.

Assessment
Winston has passed his third DHK Assessment.

Schools
Winston works at Yeo Valley Primary School in Barnstaple and is owned by head teacher Jan Reid.

Murphy - Border Collie Cross
Trainee School Dog

Rebecca talks fondly of her Collie, "Murphy is a fun loving character who always wants to play. He is at is happiest when he is chasing a ball! He has his very own toy-box with a selection of toys that he will always share (and play for as long as someone wants to). He loves his cuddles and kisses and loves meeting new people. He will be great working with children as I believe he will bring out the playful side of everyone."

Type
Murphy is training to be a Visiting School Dog

Assessment
Murphy has passed his first and third DHK Assessments.

Roxy - Collie Cross
Trainee School Dog

Type
Roxy is a training to be a Visiting School Dog

Assessment
Roxy has passed her third DHK Assessment.

Griff - Border Collie
Trainee Affiliate School Dog - Lincoln

Graham, Griff's proud owner says, "Griff was re-homed from Wiccaweys Border Collie rescue when he was 18 months old back in November 2006. He loves being around people and is always ready to be made a fuss of and play football. He enjoys going into St Helena's Primary School in Lincolnshire, where a pupil reads to him and does some obedience work with him. He's helped me with a few assemblies too. There's often a queue of children and parents waiting to say hello to him at the school gate. Even the Head Teacher, who always said she didn't like dogs, is pleased to see him."

Type
Griff is training to be a Visiting School Dog

Stanley - Sprocker
Trainee Affiliate School Dog - Chepstow, Wales

Emma, Stanley's proud owner says, "I have been around dogs all my life and I could not imagine being without the special bond between dogs and humans. When Stanley came into my life at 2 years old I made it my mission, as he had no training and was experiencing behavioural problems, to try my best at giving him a life he deserved. I have had Stanley nearly 3 years now and he has made so much progress. He has a good understanding of obedience, has competed in agility and has been assessed as a Pets as Therapy dog. It is in his role as a PAT dog that he came into work with me to visit the more vulnerable and ADHD lads. I work in a prison, with 300 young male offenders. The visits were greatly accepted by the lads but due to circumstances they were not long lasting. Stan is great fun, he has a cheeky personality and likes to be around people. He makes me smile all the time and we play many games together his favourite being 'fetch the ball' or 'find it'."

Type
Stanley is training to be a Visiting School Dog.