Comfort Dog

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three students and a teacher working in the garden

In August 2024, Dawson introduced its newest faculty member to our community: Hope, our Goldendoodle comfort dog. Hope accompanies our Middle School Counselor to school three to four times per week to provide comfort, care, and support to our students and teachers.

Creating a calming and soothing environment with the help of a gentle, friendly pet offers significant benefits for both children and adults.

Hope provides advantages for physical health, mental health and emotional well-being, and academics.

Physical Health

Mental Health & Emotional Well-Being

Lifts moods and lessens depression and anxiety
Decreases feelings of isolation and alienation
Reduces loneliness and increases socialization and communication
Creates motivation for students on a difficult day
Improves trust and comfort within the counseling room so counseling is more effective
Crisis intervention through relief and support

Academics

Reduces boredom and enhances focus
Improves concentration, engagement, and memory retention
Reduces incidents of disruptive behaviors
Increases self-confidence and reduces self-consciousness
Provides a non-stressful, non-judgmental environment that promotes students’ ability to cope with academic challenges
Enhances Dawson’s curricular program by participating in class lessons and projects

Dawson’s comfort dog is insured and trained by Norton Dog Training to work with students and teachers.

The presence of Dawson’s comfort dog has no impact on the School’s policy regarding pets on campus.

Dawson students circled around the school's comfort dog