Professor Paws
Animals Asia’s Professor Paws is an innovative programme that sees registered therapy dogs visit local schools in Hong Kong and China to teach children to overcome their fear of dogs, learn safety around dogs, responsible pet care and compassion for all animals.
On a broader level, the programme is sculpting attitudes to dogs (and all animals) at a young age and teaching children the importance of kindness and compassion.
Program structure
The basic program consists of four structured one-hour lessons over four weeks, with the children graduating as “Care Cadets”. In Hong Kong, the children also practise their English-speaking and literacy skills with a native English speaker in a fun environment.
Learning benefits
Teachers often note that students grow in confidence in our Professor Paws lessons and because of the unique learning environment, use their second language skills naturally.
Research has shown that dogs can be instrumental in improving the learning skills of a wide variety of children. Close interaction with dogs is proven to increase self-confidence and pro-social behaviour among students, while encouraging the development of compassion.
Many of the children have never had the chance to touch a dog before their first class and are often nervous or scared because they have simply had no experience of dogs, or have been taught to fear them, as dirty and dangerous. Normally, by the end of the second lesson most children are willing to walk, brush and feed the dogs, to pat and hug them, and are reluctant to say goodbye to their furry professors. The fact that the children can overcome their fear is empowering in itself.
Started in Hong Kong in 2004, Animals Asia’s Professor Paws now also runs in schools in three mainland Chinese cities – Chengdu, Shenzhen and Guangzhou – where our canine professors also attend many promotional and community activities, including large-scale events co-organised with local government bodies to encourage responsible pet ownership.