, 
, 
, 
, 
Luverne Elementary’s 517 students are learning some obedience skills this month through a special instructor.
Ally is a 7-year-old golden retriever/Labrador mix and is an approved therapy dog for the school.
Her owner, elementary counselor Marie Atkinson-Smeins, spent months certifying her through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, based in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Ally officially joined the staff this month, and Smeins has introduced the therapy dog to each of the elementary classrooms.
On Dec. 18 Ally received a warm welcome from Jill Wagner’s kindergarten students.
“My students were very excited to meet Ally,” Wagner said. “Before she came, we had a discussion about self control and how our behavior would affect the dog’s behavior and comfort level in our classroom.”
Smeins added to the introduction by explaining the differences between therapy and service dogs, how to approach the animal and why she will be working at the school.
“To me she’s a tool to use in my job,” Smeins said.
Ally will be used in one-on-one counseling sessions.
Smeins said some children have a hard time talking about their feelings, and a dog brings comfort, provides a distraction and, through petting the animal, students begin opening up about their feelings.
Therapy dogs are in use by many school counselors across the state and the U.S.
Rebel, a 2-year-old Charles King spaniel, has been a therapy dog at the Murray County Central High School in Slayton since 2018.
Her owner is counselor Mary Beech, and the positive experience of Rebel’s interaction with the students prompted Smeins to look at her own family dog as a counseling tool.
In the three weeks Ally has worked at Luverne Elementary, Wagner has already seen an improvement among students.
“Having Ally in our school has provided an amazing opportunity for students to practice self control and see how each student’s actions may affect Ally’s reaction,” she said.
“We have talked about how this also is true with people, how our actions affect other people.”
Wagner’s students were left with feelings of calm and comfort after Ally’s visit last week.
Ally’s training more than a year ago included basic obedience along with completion of a certification process through the Alliance, a national nonprofit organization.
As the family dog, Ally is used to meeting strangers and is obedient to Smeins’ commands.
“I am pleasantly surprised at her behavior,” she said. “Therapy dogs have to have a good personality.”
Therapy dogs are meant to provide comfort, affection and love for people, unlike service dogs that help humans complete physical tasks.
Ally’s certification as a therapy dog means she has been tested and she passed the “calm, obedient and friendly” test.
Ally won’t be used full time at the elementary school. “My goal is to bring her to the school two or three half days a week,” Smeins said.
The district adopted a Therapy Dogs in School policy this fall. The policy recognizes the educational use of comfort dogs in school and the necessary limitations to the dog’s use to ensure the well-being of the students and staff as well as that of the dog.
Colleen Deutsch was among the school board members who unanimously supported a therapy dog working at the elementary school.
She pointed to research into mental health and the benefits of relaxation, comfort and emotional brightening the simple act of petting a dog releases in people.
“You see a lot of kids coming to school that need that calming,” she said. “I see it as a treatment tool … and a win-win benefit for students and staff.”