Dogs Helping Kids

Dogs Helping Kids is a Charitable Trust dedicated to promoting the unique bond between children and dogs and how dogs can help teach children respect, empathy, responsibility and nonviolence.

This is achieved through educational courses, talks, workshops and hands on experience with highly trained dogs. Children are our future dog owners and it is of utmost importance that they are taught how to respect all animals from as early an age as possible. Dogs Helping Kids offers the following services:-

Educational courses for teenagers on Dog Training and Behaviour. We specialise in teenagers with challenging behaviour, such as emotional, social or behavioural difficulties. We currently run a one year course at the North Devon College working with 14-16 year olds who have been excluded from mainstream school.

Educational talks for schools, colleges and youth groups. These talks cover the following topics – what is a dog, how to be a responsible dog owner, house rules when living with a dog, prevent a bite, reading dog body language and how to have fun with your dog. Each talk is very interactive and will be accompanied by our Educational School Dogs to demonstrate clicker training in action.

Promoting the use of Dogs in Schools as classroom assistants. The School Dogs are a group of highly trained dogs who have been rigorously assessed and are currently working in the local schools with children. These School Dogs consist of the following groups - Visiting School Dogs, Attending School Dogs and Educational School Dogs.

Canine Assisted Therapy for children and teenagers who are ill in hospital, are in one of the local hospices, or for those who have been bullied or are scared of dogs. These dogs, known as the Dogs Visiting Children group will bring much pleasure to the children they meet.

Puppy Proofing Children - Parental guidance on children and dogs living in harmony in the family home. Prepare your children for the arrival of your new puppy and teach your children house rules with your new puppy - both are vitally important.

Your Dog and Your Baby - Advice for expectant parents on preparing your dog for living in harmony with your new baby.

Dogs Helping Kids believes that dogs can both enhance children’s lives and help children. The uniqueness of the child-dog bond can have a tremendous impact on the individual child and it is vitally important that our society never underestimates this amazing friendship.