Research
The Dog Mentor is collaborating with the University of Lincoln’s academic research team to explore the benefits of school dogs in educational settings. By combining practical experience with scientific research, the partnership aims to capture how school dogs positively impact students’ emotional well-being, learning, and behaviour. Through this collaboration, the initiative seeks to provide evidence-based insights into how canine companionship can enhance the school environment and support the holistic development of children.
Ground breaking research now published!
We are proud to share that The Dog Mentor’s first peer-reviewed research paper, produced in collaboration with the University of Lincoln and international research partners, has now been published in the Behavioural Sciences journal. This milestone represents an important step in building a robust evidence base for dog-assisted work in education and reflects our ongoing commitment to combining practical experience with academic research.
The study explored how The Dog Mentor programme supports neurodivergent children, particularly those on the autism spectrum, within school settings. Using qualitative analysis of responses from 58 schools, the research examined how dog-assisted interventions are used in practice and the outcomes observed by school staff, including impacts on learning, emotional regulation, and social relationships, alongside the role of a flexible, whole-school approach in supporting positive outcomes.
The LEAD team at the University of Lincoln focuses on understanding the benefits of dogs in educational settings. Their research explores how canine-assisted interventions improve children’s well-being, development, and learning outcomes. The team collaborates with schools to evaluate the emotional and behavioural impacts of school dogs. By combining developmental psychology with practical animal interaction research, they aim to provide evidence-based insights into enhancing student experiences through human-animal bonds.
​For further details, visit LEAD’s team page.
International Society for Anthrozoology
The link with ISAZ
The International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ) is dedicated to advancing the scientific study of human-animal interactions. ISAZ supports research, fosters scholarly exchange, and promotes interdisciplinary collaborations in the field of anthrozoology. Their annual conference, which gathers global experts, offers a platform for presenting new research, discussing emerging topics, and networking within this multidisciplinary community.
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At ISAZ 2024, Jenny presented her emerging trend abstract, “The Dog Mentor: School Dogs Improving Educational, Social, Emotional, and Therapeutic Outcomes Through Targeted Interventions.” Her presentation highlighted how school dogs positively impact students. The University of Lincoln’s team supported her submission by offering expertise in developmental psychology, human-animal interactions, and educational interventions, ensuring a strong, evidence-based presentation. This collaboration emphasised the growing role of canine interventions in enhancing children’s learning and emotional well-being.
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In 2025, Jenny returned to the International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ) Conference in Saskatoon, Canada, to present the initial findings from The Dog Mentor research in collaboration with the University of Lincoln and international partners. The presentation shared early insights from schools participating in the programme, highlighting how Dog Mentor teams were perceived to support emotional wellbeing, engagement in learning, and social development for neurodivergent pupils. Presenting at ISAZ — a leading global conference for human–animal interaction research — marked an important step in sharing emerging evidence with the international research community and contributing to the growing scientific discussion around dogs in educational environments.
