ABSTRACT
This chapter presents research on the effects of incorporating live animals into education settings, with a focus on activities, interventions, and prevention programs designed to enhance students' social competence. The multifaceted construct of social competence is considered a central domain of human development and is thought to play a critical role not only in educational success, but also in predicting future mental health outcomes and overall well-being. Promoting behavioral, social, and emotional competence in youth is an effective strategy to enhance educational success and to prevent mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders in adulthood. Using a quasi-experimental design, Beetz examined effects of weekly school-dog presence on third-grade students' socioemotional experiences in school, depression, and emotion regulation strategies. In the dog-present classroom, children demonstrated increases in positive attitude toward school and positive emotions related to learning.
