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Meet Scooby, the school therapy dog helping kids feel relaxed

Scooby the therapy dog: 'We're lucky to have him'

Every morning at a primary school in Armagh, excited children hurry through the gates - not just to start their lessons, but to see a furry friend, Scooby the labradoodle.

Scooby isn't just any dog; he's a therapy dog, which means he helps children to learn by feeling calm and happy.

The pupils love Scooby so much that they even wrote a special song for him, which they sing at morning assembly.

And, if you think it's unusual to have a school dog, you'd be right. The school is one of only seven in Northern Ireland with a therapy dog like Scooby.

A white labradoodle with a purple harness around the nose. The dog also has a green and purple bandanna around the neck.

Eleven-year-old TJ said that Scooby is "a wonderful friendly dog and he helps out everyone."

Ten-year-old Conor added that he: "Brings joy and happiness to our school. When children are anxious, he'll always go and care for them and we're lucky to have him."

Scooby is playful too. Ten-year-old Eimear said: "Anytime he's out in the yard or anything we always get to pet him. He really likes playing football with us and he's really playful."

Another pupil, Aimee, loves how Scooby "likes to go visit everybody." She said "If you need help with your feelings and everything you can just go to Scooby's room."

A white labradoodle is lying down beside a rug, his head is turned right to face the camera. A group of primary school children are in navy uniforms with sky-blue collars, circled behind him on the classroom floor. Two pupils at the front are reaching out and petting Scooby the dog.

There are about 160 pupils at the school, and around 60 of them have Special Educational Needs. While 93 are newcomer pupils.

A newcomer is a pupil who speaks a different language at home than the one used in their school, according to the Department of Education (DE).

Jolene, one of the teachers and Scooby's foster mum, said that he has made a huge difference: "We have children that are non-verbal that are actually starting to speak. They're calling Scooby by name, they're saying goodbye, they're saying hello."

The school's principal says Scooby has even helped improve attendance because pupils are so excited to see him at school every day.

Scooby was trained by a group called Assistance Dogs NI, who teach dogs how to work in schools in Northern Ireland.

"Children will communicate with a dog before they will communicate with humans, and I have found that day in, day out," explained trainer Gary Jordan. "The dog doesn't judge - the dog will just stand there and let the child stroke or pet them."