She's much more than man's best friend. Nikki is the therapy dog at Cold Lake High School (CLHS). Students describe her as a support, a confidant, and the light in their day.
She's much more than man's best friend.
Nikki is the therapy dog at Cold Lake High School (CLHS). Students describe her as a support, a confidant, and the light in their day.
"It's like having a best friend," expressed Grade 12 student Rachel Morawietz. "Dogs don't care who you are as a person, they just love being around you and making you feel better."
Morawietz saw first-hand the impact a therapy dog can have. She was taking a math exam when Nikki walked through the class.
"I got to pet her and I did better on the exam," she said.
Originally thinking she was going to be too distracted by the dog, Morawietz worried that she might do worse, but after petting Nikki she felt instantly calmer.
This has been the same result for some of her friends who have also been struggling with certain classes. Two girls in particular have been taking advantage of having a therapy dog in their school. Both were struggling with chemistry, and told Morawietz that since Nikki has come along they have seen an improvement in their grades.
"I think it's really good for the students because when you get stressed out, it's nice to see a friendly face," noted Grade 11 student Caitlyn Dunnill.
After learning the school was getting a therapy dog, Dunnill was over the moon.
"I was so happy. I couldn't believe it was happening. It's not one of those things that normally happens in a small town because a lot of schools may not care so much about mental health, it's more about grades and getting students to pass."
Nikki has been wandering the halls at CLHS for over a month with her handler Darrell MacDonald. This isn't the first time the CLHS teacher has been seen at the school with a dog by his side.
Prior to getting Nikki, MacDonald would bring Serria to school. It was through her relationship with students that he knew getting a therapy dog would be the right move.
"Serria has been coming for seven years. She had been caught in a snare north of Lac La Biche and was at the Lakeland Humane Society for a year and a half. Serria had a lot of social issues, but when she came here (CLHS) it was perfect," MacDonald said.
He would often bring her cross-country skiing, and quickly noticed that students who might not always attend class started asking about when Serria would be coming next. This gave him an idea of how having a therapy dog would benefit their school.
After doing some research, CLHS principal Dustin Walker and MacDonald learned that therapy dogs provide a positive topic for discussion and promote confidence in students.
"It's been an amazing experience to watch. Kids who don't normally come up and talk to any adult just come up to Darrell. They might not say anything, but they come up, bend down, and pet the dog. Just that interaction is healthy," emphasized Walker.
MacDonald said there is one student in the school who was terrified of dogs because of a past experience. Since introducing her to Nikki, she has grown more and more comfortable being around them.
"She was bit by a big dog when she was 10-years-old," explained MacDonald. "I've introduced her to Nikki and although she is still tentative, it's better. She can talk and even look at the dog now. In the beginning she wouldn't even want to look at her."
Interacting with dogs and other animals has also been proven to decrease blood pressure, provide tactile stimulation, assist in pain management, give motivation to move, and stimulate the senses.
Having dogs in schools has increased students' physiological development, improved social skills, and increased self-esteem. They have also been proven to calm fears, relieve anxiety, and teach skills.
Nikki is a four-year-old German shepherd from Georgia, United States. She has been highly trained and is the perfect fit for the school.
When MacDonald first brought her home, he was careful to slowly introduce her. At first, he brought her in for half days, taking her through the halls when it was empty, letting her get to know the school.
Once she was comfortable he asked three teachers if he could take her into their classroom as part of the integration process. They agreed and he would stop in with Nikki, but wouldn't communicate with the students.
"I started with our knowledge and employment classes because they have small numbers," explained MacDonald.
These students were allowed to interact with Nikki, petting her and talking to her.
After seeing the impact it had on those students, he knew Nikki was ready to start coming in full-time.
Now, she goes with him to every class he teaches. She wanders the halls and is always welcomed with open arms.
Students wait at the doors every day for Nikki, their faces lighting up when she walks into the school.
"She makes my day better, and I always smile when I see her in the halls," Morawietz said.
Although the students may see her as just another friend, Nikki knows them as one of the pack.
MacDonald explained that when she is home, Nikki understands that her pack is much smaller. When she is at the school, the size of her pack grows substantially.
"She will smell the scents of the kids when they put their hands down. Dogs have an amazing memory of scents... The more people that come up and are petting her, the more she smells and the more she knows these people as part of her pack. That's pretty amazing," he added.
The program is funded through the Northern Lights Public Schools special initiatives program. The funding covered the cost of purchasing the dog, and one year of food and insurance.
MacDonald said the program will cost about $4,000 per year, and at this time, they still don't have a sponsor for the next school year.
As someone who has seen day to day the impact the therapy dog has had on the students, MacDonald encourages every school to give it a try.
Seeing how Nikki is making a difference "gives me a warm spot," he said.
"I knew this was going to be a good project."
