Luna is a Golden Retriever and was born in April 2022. 

 

The breed was carefully selected because of its ideal temperament - gentle, friendly, social, fun-loving and intelligence. They are used widely in the field of therapy and support (e.g. hearing dogs).

 

Luna loves spending time at Puddleducks, she enjoys all the attention and especially loves digging in the woodland!

Luna belongs to Kirsty, Owner and Manager of Puddleducks and she ensures the welfare of Luna, the children and staff are considered at every point.

Luna has undertaken puppy training classes and will now continue on different training programmes as she becomes of relevant age, with the hope of completing therapy dog training. 

We feel this is a great opportunity for the children and provides many benefits as mentioned below.

 

School dogs have been proven

• to have a calming effect on pupils, particularly those with behavioural or learning difficulties

• to improve behaviour and concentration

• to reduce stress and improve self-esteem

• to help increase confidence, as well as growing children’s understanding of responsibility

• to help develop empathy and nurturing skills

• to encourage expression and participation in more withdrawn children

to foster a sense of responsibility

• to motivate children to think and to learn, as most children have a high level of natural interest in, enthusiasm for and enjoyment of animals

• to encourage respect and thereby improving children’s relationships with each other and staff/teachers. This is likely to also extend through to the home environment.

• to teach children to nurture and respect life

• to help work with the most vulnerable children, and educational improvements with low achievers

 

When joining Puddleducks all parents/carers are asked to give informed consent for their child/ren to have direct interaction with Luna.