School welcomes calming canine

STUDENTS, parents, and teachers have welcomed a new four-legged staff member to Inverleigh Primary School.

The beginning of term three has seen two-year-old border collie, Lottie starting her new job as the school’s therapy dog.

The canine companion is principal Steven Trotter’s family pet, and he said the distinction will be made between Lottie’s two roles.

“When she’s here she’s not a pet. She’s here to do a job. At home, she’s crazy, she runs around and chases shadows and birds, barks, everything dogs do,” he said.

“But once the uniform comes on, the switch is off and she’s in therapy mode. It’s a really important transition because she’s here as a calming therapeutic presence for the kids.

“She’s very passive indoors and around kids because she knows that’s not playtime, so I knew she had the right personality but it was just about getting that training.”

Mr Trotter said he had the idea while teaching at South Geelong Primary School when he saw how his students engaged better with the presence of therapy dog, Ivy.

After several months of online preparation, Lottie received her qualifications via a three-day practical course at K9 Support in Benalla over the school holidays.

She will work alongside Mr Trotter while on-site, accompanying him when visiting classes and attending events.

Mr Trotter said Lottie’s new role will benefit the school greatly.

“It means we’ve got a completely different option in terms of support for the kids that I can’t do as a principal nor the teachers,” he said.

“The impact of an animal is a skillset we just don’t have, so there’ll be kids in every space that will have a real positive outcome based on Lottie being there.

“A lot of the benefit won’t be measurable. It’ll be anecdotal. You’ll be able to see the kids engage and see the energy lifting in the room when she walks in.”