Dogs Helping Kids (DHK) is a local charity that harnesses dog power, to help children improve their literacy and social skills.  This involves highly-trained canines working in schools and libraries, often with amazing results. The dogs work on a different level to their human counterparts.  Their presence seems to disarm and engage the children, and working with the dogs alleviates the pressure some pupils can feel in education, often with amazing results.

Obviously using dogs as teachers and facilitators requires them to be trained to very special standards.  As yet only seven canny canines have passed all six assessments with flying colours, although a further dozen are are currently undergoing training.  One of these is the delightful Taff, a two year old Cavapoo (Cavalier Spaniel cross Poodle).  Taff has been on the DHK training programme for nine months and is sponsored by Torbridge Vets.

So far Taff has passed his First and Second level assessments.  This has involved basic training (heelwork, recall, wait, stay and the ‘watch me’) but in very distracting environments.  These include local shops and the town, learning how to cope with distractions such as noise, changing environments, different surfaces and lots of people.  The dogs have to learn how to do a five-minute ‘out of sight’ stay on the High Street, fun tricks to impress the children such as the snuggle; how to settle on a blanket (for the classroom), how to focus on the pages or cover of a book, and how to press the ‘Easy!’ button to let children know they have done well.

DHK was founded by Tracey Berridge, who has very hands on role in day to day proceedings, both in managing the charity and in selecting and training the dogs to do such amazing things! Tracey says: “We are delighted with the progress Taff is making and his aptitude for the task. After passing his first and second DHK assessments at the beginning of March, we are now working with Taff on reading and preparing him for working in a school environment.  We have just started helping him and the others in the same class to read single words – starting with ‘Down’ and ‘Sit’. This takes time, patience and a lot of practice, as you can imagine. However, once mastered, it is an immensely powerful tool which can bring real breakthroughs for kids who have difficulties in literacy.  Seeing a dog read can demonstrate how they can do it too!”

Torbridge Vets like to support DHK in a number of practical ways. An initiative involving vaccination donations earlier this year has just raised further funds for the cause.  Bill Slee Veterinary Director of Torbridge says:

“We are delighted to be able to donate this £772 to DHK and would like to thank all our clients who helped raised the money.  We know that a dog undertaking the intensive levels of training required by DHK will always require substantial amounts of finance and therefore we hope this will help Taff to progress to the next level.”

Torbridge Vets (www.torbridgevets.co.uk), which have four veterinary surgeries across North Devon, are pleased to announce their sponsorship of Dogs Helping Kids (www.dogshelpingkids.co.uk). This unique, local charity is dedicated to using highly trained dogs to help teach children non-violence, empathy, respect, kindness, love, responsibility, friendship and trust. As Torbridge specialise in caring for pets, this is an ideal partnership.

Dogs Helping Kids aim to educate, help and support children and teenagers of all ages, backgrounds, sexes and abilities, using very special dogs. These animals are trained to an incredibly high standard, before going into schools, colleges and libraries, to assist with education and therapy.

Charity founder Tracey Berridge is working hard to raise the profile of the charity. Recently she, one of the trustees, a very helpful volunteer, and Teazel (one of the charities top School Dogs) with her owner Gail Laurence, visited the House of Commons in London, to demonstrate the dogs’ skills, discuss the charity’s works and its ambitions for the future. Tracey says: “The House of Commons was amazing and Teazel in particular did the charity proud. She is one of our School Dogs that can read flash cards and she bowled people over with her demonstrations! But after so much preparation, the whole thing seemed to be over very quickly. However, it all went really well, we met some key people and managed to take loads of photos, which you can now see on our Dogs Helping Kids website.”

She continued: “The impact these special animals have can be enormous. Academic research has shown that dogs in the school environment can improve academic achievement and motivation – including literacy – promotes calm behavior, improve social skills and self esteem, and teach responsibility and respect.”

Teazel’s very proud owner Gail talks fondly of her pet: “I kept home-bred Teazel, who is a Labradoodle, just as I was diagnosed with cancer and only had four months to train her before surgery. On my return from hospital, Teazel seemed to know something was different. She is the most gentle, loving dog ever. She loves people and is very respectful of children. She really enjoys Agility, visiting elderly people in local care homes (she is registered P.A.T. dog), but also laying on the sofa for cuddles! Teazel has passed the Kennel Club Good Citizen Award Bronze and Silver and is now a Visiting School Dog and an Educational School Dog, working in Southmead Primary School, Braunton.”

Torbridge Vets are proud that they will partner Dogs Helping Kids in working towards the charity’s aim of a dog in every school and library in the United Kingdom. At the same time they will help promote the positive role that dogs have in society, and in children’s lives. Veterinary Director of Torbridge Bill Slee says: “Much research has concluded that contact with pets reduces stress levels and when this beneficial effect is coupled with expert, intensive training of exceptionally intelligent dogs, the results are outstanding. We are delighted to become sponsors of Dogs Helping Kids and encourage other local businesses to consider doing the same.  The charity is undertaking sterling work with proven outcomes, but to continue – and indeed grow – it needs funds. To this end, beginning in January, Torbridge Vets will begin an initiative where every canine vaccination will generate a £1 donation to DHK.”

To talk to Tracey Berridge about sponsorship, please email her at

dhk@tberridge.fsnet.co.uk