Dog Interaction - Green Chimneys

Time and Expertise Help Student Build Social-Emotional Skills

December 21, 2020

Dog Interaction

The Dog Interaction Program allows students to be involved in the everyday care, socialization and training of shelter dogs to help them become accustomed to human interaction, learn basic commands and become ready for adoption into loving homes. An interdepartmental team of therapists, teachers and farm staff supervises students in care and recreation activities with the dogs during school hours.

Engaging students with social, emotional and behavioral challenges as trainers not only offers a unique approach to helping rescue dogs, it also helps each student. Care-taking and training tasks require patience, good communication and a strong sense of responsibility. Students understand the objective is to prepare these dogs for adoption; their desire to help the dog learn the skills it needs to be “successful” motivates them to communicate more effectively and behave in positive and appropriate ways. These lessons help not only in training the dog, but also in the student’s interaction with peers, teachers and family.

Brook Lyn the Sheep

Found abandoned in a box with her brother in Brooklyn, NY, this sheep was rescued as a newborn. After she was stabilized by a wildlife rehabilitator, she was driven up to Green Chimneys Farm where the children hand fed her with bottles of warm milk. The responsibility of becoming a caretaker for a little animal like Brook Lyn gives students a chance to recognize their own ability to make a contribution. Many of the children have been “taken care” of all of their lives by caring parents, concerned teachers and mental health staff, but stepping up and holding a bottle for this little orphan lamb transforms them from service receivers to service providers.