Animal Assisted Intervention

Service Description

Paws & Progress – Dog Assisted Intervention Helping children feel calm, confident and ready to learn. Some children find the school environment overwhelming. For those with additional support needs such as Autism, ADHD, emotional dysregulation, social anxiety or sensory differences, learning can become difficult when they feel anxious or unsettled. Our Dog Assisted Intervention programme provides a safe, supportive and engaging environment where children work alongside a specially trained therapy dog and qualified practitioner to develop emotional, social and learning skills through fun, purposeful activities. Each session is tailored to the individual child and may focus on emotional regulation, confidence, communication, social interaction, attention, listening, problem-solving, resilience and independence. Activities include games, mindfulness, reading with the dog and practical challenges that encourage children to learn through positive experiences. Dogs offer unconditional acceptance and create a calm, non-judgemental environment where many children feel safe to engage, build trust and develop confidence. Research suggests that well-delivered animal-assisted interventions may help reduce anxiety, improve emotional regulation, increase engagement and support positive behaviour and social development. Our programme is suitable for primary-aged children who may benefit from additional emotional, behavioural or social support, including those experiencing: * Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) * ADHD * Emotional dysregulation * Anxiety or school avoidance * Social communication difficulties * Low confidence or self-esteem * Sensory processing differences * Difficulties engaging within the classroom A formal diagnosis is not required. The wellbeing of both the child and the dog is central to everything we do. Sessions are child-centred, evidence-informed and delivered using ethical, positive approaches by a qualified practitioner with a carefully selected therapy dog. This is far more than simply spending time with a dog. It is a structured, goal-focused intervention that harnesses the unique human–animal bond to help children develop the confidence, emotional resilience and self-regulation they need to thrive in school and beyond.