It may be every child’s dream – a puppy in the classroom.
And one Perth primary school is bringing it to life, introducing dogs during school time to help students deal with stress and anxiety.
For the past year, Maxie the beagle and Rigby the border collie have been hard at work wagging their tails and letting the kids pat them at Mindarie Primary School.
Classroom dogs are lending a helping hand with junior students a local primary school in Perth by listening to children read, encouraging children to enjoy reading (pictured)
The students queue up to walk the dogs, who are exhausted by the afternoon (pictured)
Maxie the beagle (left) and Rigby the border collie (right) help students relieve stress at school
Acting Principal Andrea White told Daily Mail Australia the two pooches have been a huge hit with students and parents.
‘The dogs really enjoy coming to school in morning, they show little barks of delight,’ Ms White said.
‘We do use the dogs if the child is anxious in the morning, especially Monday morning grumpy children.’
The dogs are used alongside a reading program with students who do not enjoy reading or had a bad perception of reading.
‘We read research regarding dogs helping children at school, they help settle children and are good listeners,’ Ms White said.
‘They’re very supportive of the kids, Maxie our beagle will just sit and listen to the child read.’
Mindarie Primary School associate Principal Belinda Bewick said having a dog to read to made the situation an enjoyable one for the younger students.
‘It’s a completely different feeling for the children, rather than sitting one on one with a teacher, the scenario you create is better by having a dog there,’ Ms Bewick said.
With recent studies showing an estimated one in seven school aged children suffering a mental health issue, the dogs help reduce anxiety and depression.
Before the dogs were introduced to the school, which both belong to staff members, the students were taught how to care for and approach dogs.
With the dogs alternating days at the school, Ms White said there was less bad behaving children.
The dogs are used at school to comfort the children (pictured) and help decrease anxiety
‘Seeing the smile on the kid’s faces, the kids light up when the dogs are around,’ she said.
‘We have a queue of children wanting to walk the dogs.
‘They get lots of walks during day so they’re exhausted by the afternoon.’
Although the dogs are popular with the children, Ms White said the adults love them equally as much.
‘Having one of the dogs in the front office is a lovely way to welcome people into the school when they’re wagging their tails,’ she said.
‘Dogs are welcoming and such a delight for the guests too.’
The Education Department says it is up to an individual school if they wanted to introduce therapy dogs.