Certified Dog Mentoring with Mishka

Dog Mentoring

Some children find it hard to enter a classroom. Not because they don't want to learn — but because anxiety, low confidence, or difficult experiences have made the idea of learning feel too risky.

Mishka changes that.

Dog Mentoring is a therapeutic approach that uses the calming, non-judgmental presence of a trained dog to help children feel safe enough to engage, connect, and learn. It is not a reward or an add-on. It is a purposeful, structured part of the session — and for many children, it is the thing that makes everything else possible.

What happens in a Dog Mentoring session

No two sessions look exactly the same, because no two children are the same. But at the heart of every session is the same intention: to help the child feel calm, safe, and ready.

A session might include:

• Time with Mishka — stroking, sitting with, or simply being near her. Her presence alone lowers anxiety and helps children regulate before learning begins

• Structured activities — tasks and games involving Mishka that build communication skills, confidence, and emotional awareness

• Outdoor time — walks, ball games, or movement-based activities that support physical and emotional wellbeing

• Learning alongside Mishka — for children who also receive tuition, having Mishka nearby during a maths or literacy session can transform their ability to focus and engage

• Gradual, child-led progress — sessions move at the child's pace, with clear, personalised targets set together with parents
  

Who Dog Mentoring is for

Dog Mentoring is particularly well suited to children and young people who:

• Experience school anxiety, school avoidance, or school refusal

• Struggle with emotional regulation or find it hard to settle

• Have high levels of anxiety, low self-esteem, or social difficulties

• Are neurodivergent and respond well to animal-assisted approaches

• Need a gentler re-entry into learning after a difficult period

Sessions can take place at my home, your home, a local park, or at school (with permission). The location is always chosen with the child's comfort in mind.

Mishka's role

Mishka is a trained Dog Mentor, certified through The Dog Mentor Programme founded by Jenny Duckworth. She has an intuitive ability to sense when a child is anxious or unsettled, and she responds with calm, gentle presence rather than demand or expectation.

She is not there to perform. She is there to be a friend — and for children who find human interaction overwhelming, that distinction matters enormously.

Children who work with Mishka consistently show increased confidence, improved engagement, and a greater willingness to try. For many, the bond they form with her becomes one of the most motivating parts of their week.

Pricing

Dog Mentoring sessions are priced individually based on the child's needs and session format. Please get in touch to discuss what would work best for your child.