Dog for a Day
Dog for a Day
A flexible wellbeing experience for your school community.
What it is
Dog for a Day is a premium flexible incursion. An experienced mentor and accredited therapy dog visit your school for a half or full day. We focus on creating calm and building connection. This service supports learning readiness through purposeful interaction. It is ideal for wellbeing days or transition support. We bring joy and a sense of success to your students.
What it is not
This service is not a structured intervention. It does not include formal measurement or outcome tracking. We do not provide reports on student progress for these visits. Dog for a Day is a stand-alone experience rather than a curriculum-based program. It is designed for immediate wellbeing support rather than long-term behavioral change.
If you need measurable outcomes, choose School Programs
Our School Programs are the right choice for targeted skill development. These programs run over eight weeks with a fixed cohort. We track learning outcomes and monitor engagement. You receive detailed data for leadership and funding reports. If your school requires documented growth and specific curriculum alignment, please explore our Program options.
Why group sizes and breaks matter
Small groups ensure meaningful engagement for every child. We limit numbers to protect the welfare of our therapy dogs. Just like students, dogs need rest to stay calm and focused. Scheduled breaks allow the team to recharge. This results in a high-quality experience for your school. We prioritise safe and purposeful interactions over high student throughput.
What’s the difference between Dog for a Day and School Programs?
Watch Sarah’s video to understand which option is best for your school.
Feature |
Dog for a Day |
School Programs |
|---|---|---|
|
Best for |
Wellbeing events and calm |
Targeted skill acquisition |
|
Student structure |
Flexible rotations |
Fixed student cohort |
|
Time commitment |
Half or full day incursion |
Weekly over 8-week term |
|
Data/reporting |
Mood surveys |
Formal progress reports and pre and post evaluation data. |
|
Typical outcomes |
Joy and connection |
Measurable behavioral growth |
How we measure impact
To understand the immediate impact of each Dog for a Day experience, we use a simple, anonymous mood survey at the conclusion of every student session. As students leave, they are invited to indicate how they feel by selecting one of three responses:
😊 Better, 😐 The Same, or ☹️ Worse.
Because Dog for a Day is designed as a flexible wellbeing experience rather than a curriculum-based intervention, we intentionally use a simple post-session mood measure instead of formal pre- and post-program evaluations. This provides meaningful feedback while remaining appropriate to the nature of the service.
The survey is quick, anonymous, and designed to capture immediate wellbeing. Current aggregated data indicates that approximately 90% of participating students report feeling better after their session. This helps us ensure that every visit provides a positive, uplifting experience for your students.
Planning your day
Our Non-negotiables
We want the best for your students and our dogs. Please note these safety rules:
Flexible does not mean unlimited numbers; we will plan a timetable together.
Before the day, we ask for your focus theme. If your goals are unclear, we will schedule a short consult. This ensures the activities align with your school’s needs.
Which Canine Comprehension service is right for your school?
Every school community is unique. Whether you are looking to boost general student wellbeing, support a specific transition, or facilitate targeted skill development, we have a service designed to meet those needs.
Use this guide to help determine which path best supports your students and your school’s current goals.
Goal |
Best Fit |
Focus |
|---|---|---|
|
Wellbeing & Atmosphere |
Dog for a Day |
Flexible, broad engagement, no formal outcomes. |
|
Skill Acquisition & Growth |
Structured, cohort-based, measurable outcomes. |
Path 1: The Experience Track (Dog for a Day)
Best for: Wellbeing events, moments of calm, and broad, flexible student engagement.
Dog for a Day is our premium flexible incursion service. It is designed to provide immediate wellbeing support, foster connection, and celebrate success across your school community without the need for an ongoing commitment.
Path 2: The Curriculum Track (Structured Programs)
Best for: Targeted intervention, long-term skill development, and measurable behavioral growth.
Our School Programs are designed to deliver sustained results. We work with a fixed cohort of students over an 8-week term, focusing on specific curriculum areas, behavioral targets, or social-emotional goals.
Our Program Range:
What you can expect:
Still unsure? We’re here to help.
Choosing between a flexible experience and a structured program can be difficult. If you have any doubts about which service aligns with your current budget, goals, or student needs, our team would love to chat.
We can help you evaluate your options, discuss funding eligibility (such as the School Mental Health Fund), or build a custom package for your school.
What people are saying about our dog therapy programs…
Canine comprehension was such a brilliant program for our students they thrived on having Cooper during the day at school as it made something to look forward to if they were having a bad morning. Samantha was brilliant !!!!! She was such a great educator and really made a point of getting to know the children which made such a beautiful impact
My daughter started sessions in 2020 when she had a massive spike in her anxiety. The canine comprehension sessions quickly became a highlight of her week and really helped reduce her anxiety. She has always loved dogs and so these sessions are perfect to help her recover from a stressful week.
Any Questions?
Check out our FAQs or contact us directly.
Ready to Book?
Whether for a day, the term, or the year, let’s lock it in!