Classroom Assistants benefit from therapy dog Oscar

Students from Level 3 Classroom Assistants Course welcomed therapy dog Oscar to SERC’s Bangor Campus to take part in a study to assist them with their studies.

As part of their course, students have been discussing different strategies on how to support children’s self-esteem and self-confidence. Research has shown that therapy dogs can reduce stress and provide a sense of connection in difficult situations.

Many schools have used therapy dogs in the classroom and students wanted to find out if they could replicate this in a classroom for SERC students.

One of the students, Claire Cronin, brought her own therapy dog Oscar to take part in the study. 

The role of therapy dogs is to react and respond to people and their environment, under the guidance and direction of their owner. Therapy dogs can also be used as part of animal-assisted therapy. This aims to improve a person's social, cognitive and emotional functioning.

Students reported that Oscar helped to create a calm environment and there was a noticeable emotional benefit to having him in class.  Students also reported that Oscar was aware of those who felt slightly uneasy with dogs and left them alone as well as picked up on vibes of those who were a little bit anxious and lay at their feet to reassure them.

Janice Simpson from the School of Hospitality, Management, Tourism and Languages said that “'Having Oscar in the room was a very positive experience. This time of year, can be extremely stressful for students as they have deadlines to meet in order to achieve their qualification.”

She continued: “From this study students have observed that therapy dogs can be greatly beneficial to children’s self-esteem and self-confidence.”