Dog's Trust Visit

Today we were very lucky to receive a visit from Jael Jones one of the Dog's Trusts education officers. She came into school to teach us all about how to look after a dog. She brought her two pugs, Harry and Malone in to see us. It was very exciting! We learnt all about the things that dogs need and how to be responsible owners, Harry went to sleep while she was telling us and snored really loudly!

Jael showed us how the Dog's Trust look after animals from the time that they are brought in until they are rehomed to their Forever home, she also explained that some dogs can't be rehomed, these dogs live in the Dog's Trust for the rest of their lives. Our nearest Dog's Trust is in Bridgend and they have between 85-90 dogs that need rehoming at any time. Jael also showed us some of the things that dogs need to be healthy and happy at home, these included toys, food and water, treats, training pads for puppies, a collar and a lead. Jael told us why each one was important and some of the consequences of not providing dogs with the things they need.

Jael taught us how to approach a dog that we don't know but we would like to stroke, here is what you should do:

1. Ask permission from the dog owner
2. Put you hand out towards the dog in a closed fist and let the dog sniff you
3. Gently stroke the dog on it's side or in a place that the owner has told you it likes to be stroked.

Jael told us that we should never stroke a dog that was tied up with no one with it in case it wasn't friendly, she also told us not to try and stroke a dog on the top of it's head as this may upset it and cause it to bite.

Once we had learnt how to stroke a dog we were allowed to stroke Harry, we sat in rows on the floor and Harry walked past us and we could stroke him. Jael asked us not to stroke Malone as he is an education dog in training and hasn't had enough experience yet.

Next time you are looking for a dog maybe you could think about giving a Dog's Trust dog a Forever home.

I will put photos up for you to see soon but I need to download them from my camera.

I hope you all enjoyed learning about looking after dogs and seeing Harry and Malone, I really enjoyed it and thought it was very interesting. Why not leave me a comment telling me your favourite bit or an interesting thing you found out.

Mrs G