Millfield introduce a wellbeing dog to campus

Millfield introduces a wellbeing dog to the school called Stanley who is a nine-year-old Cocker Spaniel. 

Millfield Counsellor, Jessica Ward, is the owner of Stanley. She had noticed how people were responding to Stanley when she brought him to school and thought that he would be a great addition to the wellbeing team at Millfield. With Stanley as a part of the team, Jessica can provide an extra layer of comfort and support to students who may be struggling and in need of some extra emotional support. Stanley's presence has already been a welcome addition at Millfield. With his calm demeanour and gentle nature, he has been able to provide a safe and supportive space for students who may be feeling overwhelmed or anxious.  

Jess discussed the many ways Stanley can help students and staff she explained, “Research has shown that having a therapy dog in school can help lower stress hormones, like cortisol, and increase oxytocin. This is because the simple act of petting a dog, or even just being in the same room, can lift a person's mood and help them relax. This can help a person focus on their tasks for the day and reduce feelings of anxiety”. 

Jess explained that having animals at the school can bring great comfort to boarders who are away from home. She said, “Being at a boarding school, he helps bring a comfort and stress reliever for boarders who miss their own pets. Even walking around campus with him, staff and students want to see him, or you even get a smile, and it initiates a social interaction that you never normally would have. Research has proven that social communication improves when there is an animal around”. 

Millfield students have found that having Stanley at their sessions with Jess has provided them with extra comfort, one student said, “I really enjoyed my session when Stanley was there. It made me feel even more at ease".

Stanley and Jess are enrolled in a Dog Therapy course with Dog Therapy Training UK. This course is designed to train Stanley to give comfort and support to students, it will also provide Jess with knowledge to deliver safe and effective animal assisted therapy. Stanley's presence on campus is being piloted during the 2023 autumn term.

Research into the effects of therapy dogs in schools has shown a range of benefits, including: 

- Spending time with an animal improves self-esteem and lifts mood  

- Reduced stress and improved self-esteem  

- Increase levels of dopamine and serotonin  

- Increase in school attendance