This is a first in Limousin! The agricultural school of Ahun in Creuse welcomes a new speaker who does not go unnoticed: his name is Ross, he is an assistance dog for academic success.
Since May 2022, Ross the Labrador has been discovering his new friends. For integration to be successful, students must learn his language. “The dog communicates in several ways, already his face, his ears, his eyes“, explains Sophie Azzolin, the main educational adviser of the high school of Ahun, under the attentive eyes of the pupils.
Develop students’ attention and listening skills to improve the working atmosphere in the classrooms of the Ahun Agricultural High School : this is the mission of Ross, a service dog specially trained to support students.
–
We talk about thecareful in class, but it is also about theclassroom atmosphere. Despite some disturbances, the presence of a Labrador is generally very positive for the students, who come out appeased. “Meven if at certain times, we can lose the attention of the pupils, the return of the dog to the board also allows the return of the pupils’ gaze towards the teacher, says a math teacher. He also admits to being, at times, overwhelmed by the “clashes” of the students : these conflicts are already softened thanks to Ross.
But then, how does a dog ease tension?
“By the absence of speech, by the fact that he remains calm. As soon as he feels aggressiveness or tension, he moves away from the point of tension, this generates an appeasement for the whole class“, replies tit for tat the math teacher.
With the classmates we are much more attentive and we take less into account the problems or disputes that there may be.
To make it to Ahun Agricultural High School, Ross had to work hard. He received training from an early age with the association Handi’Dogs. It is this association which chooses which establishment each trained dog will be sent to. Ross was selected to be a true “social companion”he could also have worked with people with epilepsy, or even in nursing homes.
We taught him to go towards the person as soon as a child is going to be in difficulty, as soon as he feels something, we are going to have this phenomenon where the dog will come and position itself next to it and therefore relieve certain ailments and be able to trigger the word.
Florian Auffret
Handi’Dog Association
–
When Ross arrived at Ahun High School, he was given a period of adaptation, his schedule was lightened so that he could find his bearings in his new environment. From September 2022, a completely different program awaits him:
From the start of the school year he will have time slots where he will work in class, others at boarding school, also moments of rest in my office and finally half-days of rest where he will be at home and not in a work context.
Sophie Azzolin
CPE of the agricultural school of Ahun
–
–
Ross is for now the only assistance dog for academic success in the Limousin. It is necessary to count 15 000 euros to benefit from the services of this friendly ball of fur. In total, since March 2020, 10 school success assistance dogs have been donated to schools. Any establishment, agricultural or not, can request a working dog.
Watch the full report here:
–
