The PADA-ICofA personality assessment is a research-based evaluation of an animal’s personality conducted by qualified animal behaviorists (ethologists). It provides systematic insight into individual personality traits, responses, and behaviors in situations the animal may encounter in work, everyday life, or interactions with humans. This assessment offers a professional basis for understanding the animal’s strengths, needs, and adaptability, with animal welfare as a centr

Safety, motivation, and learning with a dog in the classroom Can dogs make mathematics easier? Emerging research suggests they can. School dogs have been shown to reduce stress, increase motivation, and create a learning environment that strengthens students’ mathematical understanding. While studies specifically examining dogs in math lessons are still limited, current evidence points to an important indirect effect: school dogs reduce stress, enhance motivation, and support

A research-informed perspective on the role of dogs in modern classrooms Across many countries, schools are increasingly integrating school dogs and animal-assisted services into their learning environments. This is not just about well-being; it is about strengthening learning, motivation and social safety. When a dog enters the classroom, something immediate happens shoulders drop, focus sharpens, and the relationships between children and adults soften and become warmer. Do

A long life in service of people deserves a dignified conclusion.When a school dog, therapy dog, or care dog enters retirement, it’s not about “stopping work”, it’s about creating space for calm, safety, and joy, on the dog’s own terms. 🐾 At Dyrebar Omsorg, we emphasize the entire lifespan of dogs in animal-assisted services, from recruitment and training to a dignified and welfare-based retirement. Every dog that has contributed to human learning, health, and well-being des

Dogs who work with people need time to mature. That’s why therapy dogs, school dogs, and care dogs should wait until they are at least two years old before beginning their professional work. Why Therapy, School, and Care Dogs Should Wait Until Age 2 A young mind is eager to learn, but it’s also vulnerable. For dogs working with humans, maturity is the key to safety, well-being, and sustainable work. It’s easy to get carried away. We see a social, happy, and seemingly cooperat

Experience comfort, connection, and canine therapy with Milla Joy, a therapy dog bringing joy, relief, and healing to students and youth.

An activity mat is a valuable tool in Animal-Assisted Services (AAS) and can contribute to the well-being of both the animal and the...

Chin target with dogs – A Useful Exercise in Animal-Assisted Interventions Chin target is a simple, useful, and effective exercise that...

PADA is a personality assessment developed by Dyrebar Omsorg and ICofA, in collaboration with researchers in Hungary, including Ádám...

The therapy dog Alma helped young Nora through debilitating illness Irén Sagvolden and therapy dog Alma helped Nora through a difficult...

Dogs, like us, are born with genes that provide the foundation for how they interact with the world around them. How they react to loud...

Why use Do As I Do when working with school dogs and therapy dogs? Do As I Do (DAID) is a method for teaching dogs various behaviors,...

We humans use social learning all the time. When we learn something new, we often learn by observing others do something and then try...

We often think of stress as something negative and 'stressful,' but stress can also be positive and provide us with increased motivation...

By Leonard Cecil, April 11, 2016, Lupsingen, Switzerland

As part of the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace Leadership Institute initiative, funding for this publication was provided by Wallis Annenberg...

Learn how your dog can: * Ring the bell when the food is ready * Dancing around the Christmas tree * Bow to the food * Distribute...

Humans are learning more and more these days about the health benefits of dogs. As a result, public interest in therapy dogs has been...

Several certified teams from different countries have been invited to participate in one of the summer's biggest events in...

Everyone here knows that animals and humans have a strong relationship that is beneficial for all of us. That was proven a lot of times...