Bertie the Wellbeing Dog
Bertie came to us as a puppy in the school holidays with the aim of joining his owner Ali at school the next term as a wellbeing dog. With such an important job to do, we really focussed on Bertie's calmness, disengagement and optimism so he could thrive in his new role.
Both Bertie and Ali threw themselves into training and they clearly have a great bond and so much fun together. We also train at school, where Bertie has his own lessons every week. He really has to flex his focussing muscles so he doesn't go and interact with other staff and students while training.
Bertie has shown a natural aptitude for his job and the training that Ali has done with him has complimented his natural abilities allowing him to perform in stressful situations. He has sat calmly and listened to children read and he's helped students who are struggling in school. It's wonderful to see Bertie thrive at school and enjoy helping out.
WHAT DOES SCHOOL SAY ABOUT BERTIE?
"Steph has been a transformative presence in Bertie’s journey as a secondary school wellbeing dog from day one. Her weekly one-to-one sessions, in school, have not only deepened Bertie and his mum Ali’s connection with her but have also brought out the best in Bertie — he’s thinking more actively, responding positively and truly thriving.
The progress is clear … Bertie is engaging appropriately and confidently with both students and staff, which gives us all real peace of mind. Steph’s calm, intuitive, personalised approach and genuine rapport with Bertie and Ali make all the difference. We couldn’t be more grateful for her expertise and the sense of wellbeing she fosters — in both Bertie and those around him and recommend her without hesitation, to any dogs and their owners. Steph is extremely thorough in her preparation and feedback and tailors the sessions to meet the needs of each client."