Polite pup becomes popular primary school addition

MOVE over PE teachers – Bellbrae Primary School students have a new favourite staff member.

Foxy the nine-month-old groodle has made himself at home at the Surf Coast school in recent months, becoming Bellbrae’s official pet and an important stress buster for children.

The cuddly canine is the first friendly face students see on the way into school each day and has played a vital role in easing heightened levels of anxiety faced by some kids leaving their parents after long stretches of home learning in the past two years.

Groodles, which are a golden retriever-poodle cross, are known as ideal companion dogs that are mild-mannered, easily trainable and possess an all-important silky gold coat.

Foxy belongs to Bellbrae PS assistant principal Louise Kahle, who brings the plush teacher’s aid to school from Monday to Thursday, before a well-earned day at home on Fridays.

“He’s just become a loved member of the school community by everyone,” Mrs Kahle said.

“The kids have a real sense of calm when he’s around.

“He meets kids at the front of the school in the morning and provides that safety net, and then it’s a bit of a fight for who gets him for the rest of the day.

“He spends time in lots of different classrooms depending on the needs of different kids.”

 

 

Foxy began his school role late last year during lockdowns when only a few children were attending and became a permanent fixture as classes ramped up to full capacity.

“I knew that groodles were great therapy dogs, I heard great things about them in the past,” Mrs Kahle said.

“I thought I’d trial it at school, and he just fit in, worked perfectly and knew what to do.

“There wasn’t much training involved, he picked it up from day dot.”

Leaked school term reports indicate that Foxy has earned top marks across his studies during term one, though teachers have identified room for improvement in the playground when he occasionally pulls on his lead for food scraps.