It’s not unusual to see a therapy dog visiting a school but this one weighs more than some of the teachers.
The Riverbend Elementary School in Rockingham County, Virginia, has a new therapy dog. But what makes this dog stand out, is that he weighs 200 pounds!
Gabe the therapy dog is a huge mastiff that outweighs the kids and some of the teachers at the school where he works. Despite his size, he’s a big sweetheart that the kids love spending time with.
To get chosen to spend a session with Gabe, the kids write him a letter explaining to him why they feel they need some one-on-one time with him. Of course, Gabe reads all his mail and chooses the kids that he feels need him most.
Once they’re chosen, they get to spend some one-on-one time with Gabe, which helps recharge them before heading back to class. Gabe loves his job and takes it very seriously. But he also does more than comfort and support the kids.
He also teaches them responsibility. The students must make sure Gabe has water and take him for walks. He lets them know that it’s a big responsibility to take care of an animal and that although he’s a giver, he needs care too.
Gabe also ‘shares’ all the letters he gets with the teachers so that can learn about what’s going on with their students so they can help them better. It’s truly a win for teachers and students, and since Gabe loves his work, for him also.
Therapy dogs are not the same as service dogs. The benefits of using them in the classroom include improving attendance, problem-solving abilities, reducing problem behavior, and helping kids feel calm and understood.
The dogs are primarily there to provide emotional support and comfort. They are trained but also rely on their social instincts and skills to offer emotional, cognitive, and health benefits to the students they spend time with, which results in better attendance and improved skills.
Not all therapy dogs are as big as Gabe. They can come in any shape and size. The one big requirement is that they have the temperament and empathy to want to do the job, which Gabe certainly does.
We hope you enjoyed watching Gabe touch the lives of these young kids. As always, please feel free to share with your friends.
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