The Benefits of Pets in the Classroom: 4 Ways Pets Are Transforming and Helping Kids at School
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The start of the school year is upon us, and soon will come field trips, school plays, and group projects. Perhaps there’s another highlight that could make this year even more special:
From therapy dogs and cats to smaller companions like rabbits and guinea pigs, animals can offer a wealth of benefits for students.
Pets in the Classroom: Why It Matters
Beyond being fun companions, classroom pets can be valuable learning tools, fostering responsibility, empathy, and scientific curiosity.
For some students, the calming presence of an animal can even help manage anxiety or challenges like learning disabilities and behavioral difficulties. Given these benefits, it’s no wonder animals are being incorporated into school curriculums across the country.
Pets Reduce Anxiety
If you’re a parent, you likely know that back-to-school jitters are all too real. Stress might not just come from the big first day or changes in routine; children can experience stress both in the classroom and on the playground.
School can be a tough place sometimes. Interacting with animals offers a unique opportunity for social connection and play without the fear of being wrong, judged, or worse—bullied.
Dogs, for example, are often seen as nonjudgmental and stable sources of unconditional acceptance. Their perceived forgiveness, authenticity, and lack of concern for mistakes can help make a child feel more at ease and calm.
Beyond emotional comfort, physical engagement with animals has tangible benefits. Research indicates that interacting with animals can lower blood pressure and heart rate.
Pets Foster Positive Attitudes Toward School
Having a pet around can also make school more fun, as a third-grade teacher in Germany discovered. One day a week for an entire school year, she brought her 7-year-old Norwegian Lundehund along.
Her pup was simply present in the classroom, often resting in the middle of the students’ u-shaped desk arrangement. Meanwhile, a control group consisting of another third-grade class had no such furry visitors.
The teacher found that the students from the classroom with the dog reported a more positive outlook on school and learning.
Tasks such as cleaning the pet’s habitat, feeding, or walking them all contribute to a sense of responsibility.
“School dogs,” as they’re called in Europe, are starting to catch on, and some were even given active roles in classroom life, helping to select mathematical tasks using soft dice, supporting students during difficult tasks and tests, and performing tricks as rewards.
And while students look forward to coming to school to see their companion, the classroom pet can also serve as a motivator and reward for good work, make ordinary (even dreaded) tasks fun, and foster a better classroom environment overall.
Pets Facilitate Learning
It’s no secret that students learn in different ways, and, for many, hands-on experiences like caring for animals and reading to them can be a powerful tool.
Imagine learning about the thermoregulation of your classroom’s pet turtle, then collaborating with other students to build the turtle an ideal habitat.
Or perhaps you're learning about physics and today’s assignment is engineering a device that encourages the classroom’s bearded dragon to increase their speed.
These aren’t just fun activities—they’re real lesson plans teachers use for hands-on science, math, and art education.
Scientific evidence, like that collected from 41 classrooms across 19 schools in the United States, tells us that classroom animals—including guinea pigs, fish, lizards, hamsters, toads, gerbils, turtles, and tortoises—may also increase reading competence and academic performance.
When children see that their efforts positively impact an animal’s well-being, it boosts their sense of accomplishment and self-esteem.
Meanwhile, national reading programs, such as the Read with Me™ Pet Partners™ program,
These programs are always in need of volunteer therapy animal-handler teams, so if you have a pet that may be a good candidate, it’s worth looking into a certification.
Pets Help Develop Social Skills and a Sense of Community
While some children are naturally outgoing, for others, shyness can make forming friendships challenging. Classroom pets offer a unique way to bridge this gap.
Just as adults often bond over shared interests or responsibilities, pets in the classroom can serve as a common ground for students.
Tasks such as cleaning the pet’s habitat, feeding, or walking them all contribute to a sense of responsibility. When children see that their efforts positively impact an animal’s well-being, it boosts their sense of accomplishment and self-esteem. This increased confidence often translates into more positive interactions with classmates.
Getting and Keeping Pets in the Classroom
Do you know a teacher who might be interested in having a classroom pet? Visit the Pets in the Classroom® “Tell a Teacher” resource.
Just fill out a form with your teacher’s contact information, and Pets in the Classroom will ensure the teacher receives all the details they need to apply for the Pets in the Classroom® Grant Program.
