The Top Dogs on Campus

As the days grow longer and assignment season approaches, Interim Director, Teaching + Learning Support Heather Fitzgerald knows that students, staff and faculty need that extra boost of dopamine through a visit with the bouncy and friendly Gibson.

Twice a month through the Teaching + Learning Centre (TLC) program “Puppy Pedagogy,” Gibson and Heather welcome anyone to chat and meet the team in the Centre. The program emerged from a post-pandemic desire for staff and faculty to reconnect after an isolated break.

“The best part is I’ve gotten to know many more faculty and staff members. It’s helped build some solid working relationships,” says Heather. “It’s funny—I might run into someone I met through Puppy Pedagogy, and later, I’m in a meeting at Student Services and think, ‘Oh, you work with international students? We should connect.”

Dogs as a core routine

In the Counselling + Wellness office, Student Resource Coordinator Joey Ho and Interim Director of Counselling + Wellness Johnny Liu embolden students to come as they are and connect with Ringo, Anson and Zoey at Dog Therapy.

The program began in 2019, and it even offered a Zoom version during the pandemic, during which the dogs showed off their tricks and spins. Embedded throughout the Counselling + Wellness programs is a desire for consistency through activities that provide stress relief for busy students with precious little time to unplug.

“We hear from students that campus can feel isolated, so we try to create opportunities for connection. Some students are more shy or introverted. So, having a pet around can be a great icebreaker,” says Johnny. “Just watching others interact with the dogs can make someone feel included, even if they’re not actively participating. As with our morning oatmeal and toast bars, people may come in to grab breakfast, but while waiting, they chat in small groups. Some students even come to campus on Fridays to hang out with the dogs.”

One thread connecting Gibson and the dog therapy trio Anson, Ringo, and Zoey is their unique training at the Pets and Friends organization. All four friendly furbearers have undergone extensive training, including the Canine Good Neighbour test, to become officially certified therapy dogs.

Puppies as a bridge to home

Heather recalls how Gibson’s easygoing temperament was an ideal fit for his initial visits to BC Children’s Hospital, where he meets with young children, parents and teens. While cuddling him, patients and their families often tell stories of the pets they love.

“I see that feeling a lot here on campus too, where people get excited and tell me, ‘I have a dog at home.’ And maybe ‘home’ is in Taiwan or India, so they love talking about their dogs, and it reminds them of home again. That becomes a positive experience, which I’ve been hearing from students, staff and faculty across the board.”

Finding relief from feelings of homesickness is a common experience at Dog Therapy, which many students first encounter during Foundation year orientation in August. Joey and Johnny have witnessed students who met during that orientation coming back every Friday to meet the dogs, making it part of their routine.

“Having Anson, Zoey or Ringo here can help students connect. It also helps that our volunteers are engaging and willing to answer questions, making it feel more like relationship-building,” said Johnny. “When the volunteers are friendly and approachable, students feel more welcome.”

Moments of chill

Spending time with animals often helps to raise our endorphins and lower stress levels, and programs like Dog Therapy and Puppy Pedagogy offer welcome breaks from the monotony of routine and onslaught of daily work.

Joey says spending time with Anson has helped them be more present and irreverent in their relationship-building with students. “When we’re petting the dogs, you’re in the moment. It’s all the endorphins and I'm sure you get that cuddle hormone too!”

For Heather, activities like Puppy Pedagogy and Dog Therapy provide community members with opportunities to open up. “Many people are hesitant to do things like icebreakers or community-building activities because they feel like their focus gets disrupted. Having Gibson here has shown me how often we don’t realize what others are going through. I’ve seen people in the hallway who look down, lost in their thoughts or wiping their eyes. They might not even engage with me, but they’re having a moment with Gibson—feeling something real.”

If you’re on campus and need a mind-decluttering moment, check out Puppy Pedagogy twice a month at the TLC and Dog Therapy every Friday in the Oasis Lounge.