Human-Canine Synergy: Learning Interventions in Elementary School

DiL and Intellectual Shaping

In general, the DiL program is part of an approach focusing on successfully combining academic, emotional, physical, intellectual and ethical components of education, in order to ensure a healthy and balanced individual. That is, students address all questions in a holistic approach not only intellectually but also emotionally. Whether it is a question in reading, in mathematics or social studies, they are immersed in the learning process using all of their senses at the same time and thus their intellectual ability is holistically challenged.

More specifically, in the Dogs in Learning program students when answering a meaningful question related to the amount of food a specific dog needs to survive or how much it will cost to keep a dog healthy, basically eliminate the usual questions asked by them such as “why it is important to learn a specific concept?” or “where am I going to use this mathematical concept”? At the same time, principles and values such as: is it OK to abuse a dog? What is our responsibility to helpless animals as ethical citizens? These questions need to be tested, answered and reinforced. That is, these philosophical/educational concepts promoting the development of communication, critical thinking, and public speaking can be achieved by utilizing dogs.