Bark Smart Visits Gooseacre Primary Academy
- Bark Smart Team
- Jun 12
- 2 min read
A Pawsitive Experience in Dog Safety Education!
At Bark Smart, we’re passionate about creating safer communities by teaching children’s safety with dogs in a fun, engaging, and impactful way. We recently had the pleasure of visiting Gooseacre Primary Academy for a two-day immersive dog safety experience, and what an incredible few days it was!
A Two-Day Dog Safety Journey
We were warmly welcomed by the wonderful staff and students at Gooseacre Primary Academy, where we delivered Bark Smart sessions to every year group individually. Our aim? To equip children with essential knowledge around dog safety, body language, boundaries, and respectful interaction, skills that can prevent accidents and foster a safer relationship between children and dogs both at home and in the wider community.
Joining us for this special visit were our fantastic partners: Canine Partners and Canine Allies. Together, we introduced the children to three brilliant canine ambassadors
🐾 Finny – the ever-patient and gentle dog from Canine Allies
The children absolutely loved meeting our four-legged friends, and it provided a perfect opportunity to demonstrate real-life examples of dog body language and safe behaviour around dogs.
Why Dog Safety Education Matters
With more dogs than children in the UK and 1
In 3 households owning a dog, teaching children how to behave safely around dogs is no longer optional, it’s essential.
Each year, thousands of preventable incidents occur simply due to a lack of understanding between children and dogs. That’s why Bark Smart was created: to close that knowledge gap through school workshops, educational resources, and community outreach.
Our programme focuses on:
Recognising dog body language
Understanding when to approach (and when not to)
The importance of respecting a dog’s space
How to avoid triggering fear or defensive behaviour
Real-world role play and interactive activities
We firmly believe that the earlier children learn these principles, the more confident and responsible they become around dogs, reducing risk for both child and animal.
The Power of Partnership
Our collaboration with Canine Partners and Canine Allies brought a new level of depth to the sessions. The children were amazed by the incredible bond between the dogs and their handlers and got to see firsthand how dogs can be not just pets, but also life-enhancing partners and allies.
This partnership helps us demonstrate both the joy and the responsibility that comes with dog ownership, tying beautifully into our core Bark Smart messages.
A Massive Thank You
To Gooseacre Primary Academy, thank you for having us. Your commitment to your students’ safety and wellbeing was clear from the moment we arrived, and we’re so proud to have worked with your brilliant young learners.
We left inspired by the questions, curiosity, and compassion shown by every child we met.
Want to Bring Bark Smart to Your School?
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or community leader, you can help bring Bark Smart’s dog safety education to your local school or community group.
Get in touch today to learn more about how our school programmes are transforming how children interact with dogs creating safer environments for everyone.
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