The Dogs Connect Mentorship
Listed on the Victorian Department of Education Schools Mental Health Menu
An online program for school teams who see the benefit of a wellbeing dog and want to do it properly.
Dogs Connect has been featured in
Considering a wellbeing dog for your school?
Don't just bring in a dog. Build a program. One that is ethical, sustainable and grounded in research.
The Dogs Connect Mentorship gives your people everything they need to confidently lead a wellbeing dog program, one that places animal welfare, emotional safety and cultural impact at the centre of every decision.
We don't just train the dog. We educate the humans.
Book Your Free Consultation NowThe program
What's included
- 12 online modules with over 80 structured video lessons.
- 40+ downloadables, including policies, templates, timetables, communication resources and SEL tools.
- A structured implementation roadmap tailored to your school.
- Expert consultations with the Dogs Connect team.
- The Dogs Connect Accessory Kit: signage, working gear and visual supports.
- A private online community of school leaders from across Australia.
- Ongoing support and an accreditation pathway, guided by animal-assisted intervention standards.
How it's built
Designed around five key elements of best practice
Deep preparation
We support your team to align your wellbeing dog program with your existing values, leadership structures and wellbeing frameworks.
Real learning
Instead of a manual to follow, we teach your team to understand behaviour, consent, trauma-informed care and co-regulation.
Sustained support
From calls to community groups and on-demand resources, we stay with you every step of the way.
Dog-led integration
We show you how to read, respect and protect your dog's nervous system, so working conditions stay sustainable and decisions put the animal first.
Embedded reflection
You'll learn how to gather meaningful data to guide decisions, measure impact and refine your approach over the long term.
Built for real-world impact
What the Mentorship helps your team do
- Support calm, co-regulation and self-awareness.
- Improve classroom climate, relationships and engagement.
- Respond to reactive behaviours and build connection.
- Embed trauma-informed language, behaviour and culture.
The outcomes speak for themselves
- Emotional regulation increased from 54.8% to 84.6%.
- Confidence in managing reactivity jumped from 51.7% to 89.3%.
- Participants report improvements in empathy, attendance and team cohesion.
"This program gave us structure, confidence and clarity. We're not just adding a dog. We're changing the way we connect as a community." School Leader, NSW
Recognised and quality assured
A program that holds up under scrutiny
- Listed on the Victorian Department of Education Schools Mental Health Menu as a Tier 1 (whole-of-school) wellbeing program.
- A quality-assured program in the NSW Department of Education's Student Wellbeing external programs catalogue.
- In line with international standards for animal-assisted intervention.
- On track for accreditation with the Polyvagal Institute.
We help you build compliant, ethical frameworks, and support the wellbeing of everyone involved, especially the dog.
Dogs Connect is listed on the Victorian Department of Education Schools Mental Health Menu as a Tier 1 (whole-of-school) wellbeing program.
The Dogs Connect Online Program is a quality-assured program in the NSW Department of Education's Student Wellbeing external programs catalogue, under the theme Sense of Belonging.
From our founder, Grant Shannon
"Straight away I noticed the impact on students, staff and the whole community."
In 2015 I introduced Sonny, the dog, into my teaching practice at a primary school.
The academic research around student wellbeing and applied learning, combined with my experience of a broad range of teaching and behaviour management practices, helped me create and launch Dogs Connect.
A wellbeing dog becomes an invaluable teaching and learning facilitator in a school. It lets us see how we can change the way we teach and deepen social and emotional learning.
The results are amazing, and I love working with educators who share this passion.
Not just a dog in the classroom
Unlike therapy dogs, wellbeing dogs work as teaching and learning facilitators. We train teachers to teach empathy, awareness of self and others, the escalation cycle, and self and co-regulation, with the dog.
Culture and connectedness
A dog that is a permanent member of your school community gives students daily practice in self-regulation, resilience, emotional literacy and mindfulness.
"The wellbeing dog does things I can't do!"
We hear this from so many school staff. Schools tell us their wellbeing dog helps students, and staff too, settle and re-engage.
Step by step, with us beside you
What does it include?
Step-by-step videos of explanations, demonstrations and tips on how to successfully introduce a wellbeing dog into your school community. Not just links and dog tips: we are with you every step of the way.
Access to our expertise and experience
The program includes scheduled video calls, plus email and phone support as and when you need it.
Access to our private community
Join our private Mentorship group, an online community of staff from schools across Australia who showcase their successes and support each other.
The Dogs Connect Accessory Kit
Everything you need to start introducing a dog into your school, apart from the dog. Signage declaring a wellbeing dog is on site, and a Dogs Connect duffel bag that helps your dog switch into work mode and keeps the day's essentials together.
Templates, policies, checklists and timetables
24/7 access to course guides, implementation roadmaps, pre-written policies, video announcements and communication templates for your school community.
Let's start with a call to chat about possibilities.
It's important that we work out together whether this is the right fit for your school. Have questions, or want a look at the full module list or a sample lesson? We're happy to help.
For your people. For your dog. For your whole community.