Dog helps students who are afraid of exams
By Porcospino
@Porcospino (31366)
Denmark
May 28, 2019 3:53pm CST
A school in northern Denmark has introduced a new idea. They have a new 'employee' at the school, but the new staff member isn't a person - she is a dog. The dog is supposed to help students who are feeling anxious before and during exams.
Before an exam the dog enters the room and students are able to spend some time with her. When the oral exams take place the student and the dog enter the room together and the dog is lying on the floor next to the table while the exam takes place.
Many students find it very helpful, but of course it isn't a good idea in every case. Some students are allergic or afraid of dogs, and they wouldn't find it helpful at all.
What do you think?
9 people like this
9 responses
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
28 May 19
Yes, they can help us in many years. Here they started using dogs in nursing homes some time ago, but the "exam dogs" are a new thing. Many students find them very helpful.
1 person likes this
@MsExquisite (338)
• Winston Salem, North Carolina
29 May 19
@CarolDM Yes, indeed! I live my cats they are less maintenance!
@CarolDM (203449)
• Nashville, Tennessee
28 May 19
@Porcospino Same here and cats as well.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
29 May 19
Me too. Things like that didn't exist when I was a student, but I would have enjoyed it, because I love dogs.
2 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
28 May 19
Yes, it is a good way to relax. I love spending time with mine.
1 person likes this
@MsExquisite (338)
• Winston Salem, North Carolina
28 May 19
I totally agree, dogs are sometimes smarter than humans and they are licensed and trained in a lot of special trainings that can allow them to save a person life to learning all different types of commands! It truly amazes me with their learning capabilities and my fur babies listen to me better than my very own children.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
28 May 19
That is true. They can learn so many things. How many dogs do you have? We have a Golden Retriever, he is almost 10 years old.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
29 May 19
@MsExquisite There are very few bully pits in my country. People used to be able to buy them, but the new rules have made it illegal. Several other dogs have also become illegal. My parents used to have Boxers, and most of the time we had two dogs at a time.
1 person likes this
@MsExquisite (338)
• Winston Salem, North Carolina
29 May 19
@Porcospino I had 4 bully pits and 1 Bichom fries, but now I have 2 dogs a bullypit and the bichom and two cats
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
29 May 19
Yes, I think some students find it very helpful. I watched a short video with one of the students, and she said that the dog helped her relax. On the other hand some students wouldn't like the idea at all.
2 people like this
@MsExquisite (338)
• Winston Salem, North Carolina
29 May 19
@Nevena83 Yes a lot of people are afraid of dogs either with their size or bad experiences from the past; no matter what breed it is!
1 person likes this
@Nevena83 (65280)
• Serbia
29 May 19
@Porcospino I'm sure animals always send us positive energy, but some people are afraid of dogs.
1 person likes this
@LowRiderX (22907)
• Serbia
29 May 19
For the first time I've heard of this, I do not know how much it can really help
3 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
29 May 19
I watched a video with some of the students and their reactions were very positive, but I think that some of the students wouldn't find it helpful - especially if they are afraid of dogs.
2 people like this
@LowRiderX (22907)
• Serbia
30 May 19
@Porcospino Believe or not I just think about it. What if someone is afraid of a dog? 
They'll have another stress before the exam
They'll have another stress before the exam
@rsa101 (37969)
• Philippines
29 May 19
Well that’s a unique idea but I do not really know if that helps everyone make at ease at all as some may have some phobia with dogs and you are right fir those with allergic reactions to dogs may also become more stressful for them as well than relaxing.
2 people like this
@rsa101 (37969)
• Philippines
30 May 19
@Porcospino That is why I am kind of 50-50 in believing that it could help student lessen their stress when taking exams since there is a mixed of those that will be positively impacted by their presence and those that can be negatively affected by its presence as well.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
29 May 19
Yes, I think it depends on the students. Some students find it helpful, others don't like the idea at all. I had a classmate who was very afraid of dogs, and it would have had the complete opposite effect on her and made her even more anxious.
2 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
28 May 19
I think it an interesting idea, and according the article many students find it very helpful.
2 people like this
@KristenH (33363)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
28 May 19
@Porcospino I hope it does like in pet therapy.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
29 May 19
I agree, According to the article I read some students find it very helpful, but it depends on the students, if they are allergic or afraid of dogs it wouldn't be a help.
1 person likes this
