Deano the dog helps schoolchildren with trauma, autism, and ADHD

Placement part of a Community Dog programme run by Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind

Deano, the community dog from the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, with senior infants pupils from Mrs. Coughlan and Mrs. Kelly's class in St Columba's BNS, Douglas, Cork. Picture: Denis Minihane

Deano the labrador has improved school attendance, literacy and behaviour in a Cork primary school as part of an innovative programme which brings highly trained dogs to assist in schools.

Children nervous to come to school are greeted at the door in the morning by Deano, significantly lessening school refusal at St Columba’s boys’ national school in Douglas.

The dog provides a non-judgmental ear to children reticent to read aloud, improving literacy, confidence and motivation. He is also helping children who have autism or are suffering trauma to decompress and de-stress throughout the school day.

Principal Daniel O'Connor said that Deano has been a hugely beneficial addition to the school.

“He's become an integral, valued member of the school community,” Mr O’Connor said.

“There are moments throughout every day that some children will get very stressed or anxious.

“And the dog has really helped them with that and gets them through their day.

“Deano has been particularly useful for the ASD [autism spectrum disorder] classes, but children struggle for all different reasons and he is helpful for all of them.” 

Deano’s placement is part of a Community Dog programme run by Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind through which a highly-trained dog and their trained handler becomes part of the essential learning process within the school.

The dog and handler work alongside educational staff in the school to help reduce stress and increase the learning potential of the students by goal directed interventions.

Eddie, a senior infants class pupil, reading a book with Deano, the community dog from the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, in St Columba's BNS, Douglas, Cork. Picture: Denis Minihane

Deano was specially trained as a Community Dog by the Irish Guidedogs for the Blind. Specialist training was provided to the dog’s handlers and the school was vetted in advance.

Bringing Deano to the school was the brainchild of teacher Tom Flynn, who suggested the idea to the school and is now Deano’s main handler.

“Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind found that they had these excellent dogs that were not quite making the intense assessment to become a guide dog,” Mr O’Connor said.

“So they created a new category of Community Dogs, where brilliant, highly trained dogs can help in communities like schools.

“We saw that another school in Meath was doing it and we thought we’d apply too."

We have five special classes for children with a diagnosis of ASD, and we're finding children are coming to school with a lot of needs these days.

“So we thought it'd be an extra string to our bow and would help out some of the children in our school get through a school day."

There are 30 students with an ASD diagnosis in the school.

One child takes a five minute break with Deano to regulate and reset in the afternoon which helps him return calm and ready to learn for the afternoon.

Deano visits every class in the school periodically so everyone gets a chance to enjoy him. But he’s particularly busy working with more vulnerable students.

“He's good for all the children," Mr O'Connor said.

Pupils are also taught rules around interacting with Deano, who is a working dog at their school.

“They can't just run up to him and pet him, they have to ask permission.

And when he's working, he's working, they have to just pretend he's another member of staff and walk past him.

“We have to make sure Deano keeps up certain standards.

“He is an animal after all, in a school full of children.

“Children are impulsive and children are exciting.

“So it's Deano who needs to concentrate there and make sure he stays focused.

“He's got to keep his standards up all the time. But Tom, the handler, is fantastic at that.” 

Deano has a bed in the principal’s office where he has a rest every afternoon.

"He rests in my office once every day because he does need that break-in because it's really intensive work for him."

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“You’re asking an animal to stick to a very strict set of rules.” 

Deano arrives at school at 8am and has some downtime before the students arrive.

He is then placed at one of the school entrances to greet pupils arriving for the day.

Deano is moved between the different entrances so all the students get to see him at some stage, but his placement is also strategic, Mr O’Connor said.

“There might be children with a little bit of school refusal or children who are not really doing great.

“And just to transition them into school, we'd often post him at that door where that child will be and make sure that that child gets a bit of an uplift in the morning.

“And we might even bring Deano out to see that child and have that child come in with him.

“We had a lot of school refusal since the pandemic.

"He has been very good for that."

Social and emotional needs

Deano has also helped with children’s educational, social, and emotional needs.

“A dog is great to build empathy. Children have almost automatic empathy for a dog or an animal.

“So you can teach a lesson about social skills, turn taking.

“You can teach a lesson about caring for your classmates through the dog."

“You can ask questions like, how would Deano feel now if you did that to him?” 

Deano has also helped children improve their literacy.

“Some people might be embarrassed to read aloud but when you're reading with Deano, it's much less stressful for the child.

"Dogs won't judge. They can't see your mistakes. It's like unconditional acceptance.

"It's a powerful thing when it comes to literacy," Mr O'Connor said.

"You're reading the story to Deano and you feel good about that. It's bringing up your motivation, bringing up your self-confidence."