Sage Canine Advice, by Sage Riverdog – June 3, 2012
Being trained as an AKC certified Canine Good Citizen gives me the opportunity to visit schools, nursing homes and hospitals. I was able to go visit with Ms. Rohn’s 7th and 8th grade AVID classes at Whitewater Middle School this past week.
AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is an in-school academic support program that prepares students for college eligibility and success. AVID targets students in the academic middle range. Students are not only enrolled in their school’s most rigorous classes, such as honors and Advanced Placement, but they are also enrolled in the AVID elective. In this class, they learn organizational and study skills, work on critical thinking and how to ask probing questions, get academic help from peers and tutors, and participate in enrichment and motivational activities to make college attainable.
As you can imagine, walking through the hallways of a middle school can be a little loud. Lots of students were taken by surprise and jumped back when they saw me coming. I politely sat down many times so students could come up and pet me.
Once we reached the classroom, we also surprised the 26 to 30 students in each class. You just don’t expect a 65 pound black Labrador Retriever to be walking in your classroom.
About half the students have dogs or were very comfortable with dogs. The other half were skeptical. After about 15 minutes of explaining about the different breeds of dogs, their ancestry and all my training, I sensed them become more comfortable.
Our main lesson was to share the very large economic impact and the wide variety of job opportunities related to the pet industry. Did you know that in the US alone in 2012 it is predicted that people will spend over $50 billion on their pets – with food being nearly half of that?
Dogs also can play a part in the schoolyard garden experience – Did you know that dog and cat hair can make a good organic rodent deterrent? That’s right you just mix it in around the edge of your garden bed? (It will need to be replaced periodically due to weathering.) Dog and cat hair can also be composted.
Toward the middle of my class, I relaxed and was allowed to wander around greeting the students personally. It was a very rewarding day and I look forward to my future visits to our area schools.
About Sage – Sage is an 8-year-old black Labrador retriever who lives with River District Executive Director Edna Chirico and Edna’s husband, John Huber. Sage earned a Canine Good Citizen award, which allows her to visit nursing homes, hospitals and schools. Sage loves to run, fetch, swim, ride in boats, travel in the car and play with just about anyone, especially children.
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