This book brings together authoritative information about the child/dog bond as it is manifested with family dogs, visiting therapy dogs, and service dogs trained to assist children with disabilities. Despite the widely accepted view that participating in a dog’s care and interacting with dogs in behaviorally healthy ways is a route to becoming responsible and compassionate, research on this complex dynamic is difficult to design, time-consuming to collect, and challenging to analyze. This volume synthesizes theory, research, and practice, bringing all to bear upon child/dog interactions in homes, schools, libraries, and the community at large. Children, Dogs and Education serves as a handbook for a diverse group of adults who seek to build positive relationships between children and dogs—parents/families, professional dog trainers, teachers, librarians, mental health professionals, health care professionals, and university faculty. The study of interactions between human and nonhuman animals has captured the imagination of an international community of researchers from many different fields and professions. Even though dogs are ubiquitous in the lives of most children, studies of children’s interactions with dogs in families and communities are lacking. Most of the previous research on the human-canine bond has focused on adolescents and adults or, even when younger children are the focus, it has tended to rely on parents to speak for children. There are three features of this book that make it unique. First, it goes beyond exploring the child/dog bond to examine additional important issues, including: children’s concepts of responsible care, their ability to interpret dogs’ behavioral cues, and their ideas about canine behavioral issues/training. Second, unlike most other work to date, it represents children’s voices through cases, interviews, and drawings. Finally, the contributors to this edited work use their collective wisdom to draw educational implications and suggest direction in preparing the next generation of dog guardians.

This is a children's book about a dog that loves children and was determined to go to school and learn to read. He had a female "dog-mate" in the classroom that taught him how to read. It was unbelievable that this dog was persistent and had a run of the school. His owners were exhausted trying to control his desires to attend school. The school Principal proposed a "doggie school" be built for well groomed and good behavioral dogs to attend.

How Animals Help Students Learn summarizes what we know about the impact of animals in education and synthesizes the thinking of prominent leaders in research and practice. It’s a much-needed resource for mental-health and education professionals interested in incorporating animals in school-based environments, one that evaluates the efficacy of existing programs and helps move the field toward evidence-based practice. Experts from around the world provide concrete examples of how animals have been successfully incorporated into classroom settings to achieve the highest level of benefit while also ensuring the health and welfare of the students and animals involved.

Poppy and Puppy Are Friends is a charming and informative picture book designed to encourage safe behavior around dogs for the entire family. The many responsibilities associated with having a dog are depicted throughout in an effort to create a general understanding of responsible dog ownership and animal husbandry at even the earliest age! Learning to listen to and communicate with a dog is paramount to successfully raising children and dogs within the same household. In our human world, we often forget that dogs use a nonverbal style of communication called body language to express their feelings. This lighthearted and expressively illustrated book provides children with a general introduction to identifying and respecting these nonverbal cues. Children will delight in the fun, brief text combined with the use of vivid color and grey tones, allowing them to chime in and/or anticipate what is to come for Poppy and her puppy. Parents are invited to partner with young readers and learn along the way! Proactive education promoting respect for animals with safety as a top priority creates happy pets, safe homes, and healthy family relationships ultimately keeping more dogs in their homes and out of overpopulated shelters. Join Poppy in learning how to treat Puppy! The author pledges to donate a portion of all online sales proceeds to Best Friends Animal Society, the nation's largest animal sanctuary located in Kanab, Utah.

Your Child's Guide to Playing Safely with Dogs... Everyone loves the image of a child and a favorite pet dog. Many children say they love dogs, and claim that the dog is their favorite animal. However, it's common for children to be hesitant or intimidated around dogs. Many fears and worries about interacting with dogs can be easily solved with some basic education about how to approach and interact with dogs of all kinds. A Day at the Dog Park introduces Carter and his dog, Snickers. Carter's mom takes them to the dog park, and their enjoyable day gives fun, practical lessons about the best way to make new dog friends. Carter explains that there are lots of different types of dogs, and goes through a six-step method for meeting a new dog. Each step is explained clearly, simply, and with plenty of detail, so readers can feel confident in their new skills. Carter also shares advice about what not to do. Children and parents alike will enjoy this charming, educational book, which is likely to become a favorite in your library! About the Author: Justene Presley is from Columbus, Ohio. She graduated from Belmont University with a music degree in 2011. In addition to her love of animals, she enjoys singing and crafting. She lives with her husband, Will, and their dog, Archimedes.