About
Who we are
Recognising that there has been a significant growth in the number of dogs being taken into schools during the Covid pandemic, the National School Dog Alliance was set up by a group of animal assisted intervention practitioners and researchers, to provide teachers, managers and governors with clear advice that will enable them to introduce dogs into a school in a way that works for all stakeholders.
Many children can benefit from interaction with a dog within a school setting, but to ensure the welfare and wellbeing of all stakeholders, and in particular the dogs, it is vital that dogs are introduced in a structured and thought-through way.
The National School Dog Alliance aims to provide:
- Sound, independent, objective and non-judgemental advice on a range of topics relevant to supporting dogs in schools.
- Case studies and examples of good practice.
- Useful policy templates that can easily be adapted to meet specific circumstances.
- Information that will help schools to consider the strategic aims they want to achieve by bringing a dog(s) into school.
- Information that is specifically aimed at a range of stakeholders including children, parents, teachers, teaching assistants, governors, managers, handlers, researchers.
- A lively network where people involved in working with dogs in schools can share ideas and good practice.

What we do
The advice offered by the National School Dog Alliance is based on many years’ experience of its founder members in working with dogs in school settings. The potential benefits to the whole school community are significant, but there must be clarity of purpose and an overriding requirement to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the children and the dogs.
Meet the Team
- Committee
- Ambassadors

Mrs Carol Lincoln

Ms Vicki Cutting

Mrs Odette Nicholas

Mrs Thereza Rees

Mrs Debby Lucken

Dr. Helen Lewis

Dr Janet Oostendorp-Godfrey

Dr Russell Grigg

Mrs Sarah Ellis

Ms Selina Gibsone

Dr Risë VanFleet

Dr Marc Abraham, OBE
