Meet Asher, Lakeside's Therapy Dog!

This is Asher's sixth year at Lakeside, and he is so happy to be a Lakeside Lion!

What are the benefits of a therapy dog at school?

• Lower blood pressure and stress levels
• Increase levels of dopamine and serotonin
• Improve physical well-being
• Decrease anxiety
• Increase positive mood/self-esteem
• Ease social isolation and help with social skills
• Help readers gain confidence and supports literacy development

Asher's Role at School

Classroom Canine - Research studies have concluded that having a dog in a school classroom can have many positive benefits – these include help to calm children down, improve academic achievement, motivate those children who may not be attentive, teach responsibility and encourage children to respect all life.

Listening Canine - These dogs will be incredibly calm and happy to have an individual child read to them or join a group of children in the library whilst they are having a book reading session. Dogs give unconditional acceptance, as they are non-judgmental, which is especially crucial to struggling, emerging readers. The listening canines also provide confidence to children as they do not make fun of them when they read, but above all they make amazing listeners, providing the children with a sense of comfort and love. These dogs have proved through research that children who read to these dogs show an increase in reading levels, word recognition, a higher desire to read and write, and an increase in intra and interpersonal skills among the children they mix with.

Reward Canine - Therapy dogs are gentle and kind, as well as exciting for students. Students who have performed incredibly well during the week or those who have made progress in a certain subject, or those who have achieved tasks set for them, may be rewarded with spending time during lunch or break with the dog.