Voices From the Field: An Interview with Educator and Therapy Dog Handler, Leslie Gravino

Source: Temescal Associates

By Sam Piha

Through a partnership with Las Positas College and Dublin High School in Northern California, the Career and College Planning class was offered to students in Valley High School (a continuation school, part of Dublin High School). By invitation from the principal, educator Leslie Gravino, brought her golden doodle, Luke the dog, to serve as a therapy dog for the students in her class. To learn more about the benefits of therapy dogs, we asked Leslie a few questions about her experience and her responses are below.

Q: Describe your situation.

A: Through a partnership with Las Positas College and Dublin High School, the Career and College Planning class was offered to students in Valley High School (a continuation school, part of Dublin High). The class was large (32 students) and there were behavior issues that made teaching the class difficult. It was there I discovered the positive power of therapy dogs. 

Source: Temescal Associates

Q: Describe how Luke the dog was used.

A: Luke was brought in on the leash, which allowed students to walk him if they wanted. Otherwise, Luke was free to roam the classroom. He often chose 1 or 2 students to sit by. The kids were free to pet him or cuddle. I also brought dog treats and showed the students how to get him to perform tricks. 

Q: Did you need permission from the school?

A: Because Valley High School is a continuation school, they were able to accommodate therapy dogs on a regular basis. The Principal of Valley said they sometimes used therapy dogs to helps the students stay calm and focused. I decided to bring my dog Luke to class to see if it would help students.

Q: Did Luke receive special training?

A: Luke was trained as a puppy to follow directions and not jump on people. He was not formally trained as a service dog but remains calm and friendly with people and other dogs.

Q: Did you prepare the kids before the visit?

A: The week before I brought Luke to class, I asked the students if that would be a problem for any of them. They welcomed the idea.

Q: What were the results of his visits?


Source: Temescal Associates

A: As soon as the students came into the classroom and saw Luke, they responded with smiles, pets and comments like: “can he sit with me?” Once the lesson began and Luke settled next to a group of students, they seemed more alert, calm and smiled more.

One student in particular, who often looked serious and slightly “lost” in the classroom, came over to Luke every class; he’d pet him, walked him to a fire drill and Luke began to sit under the desk by his feet. It was evident that Luke brought out emotions and affected this student. 

Q: Why do you think the therapy dog visits were successful?

A: Most people respond positively to dogs, especially ones that are calm and friendly. Luke is very calm and somehow made the students calmer. Perhaps animals bring out the softer, more vulnerable feelings of teenagers. Therapy dogs may not just comfort others but enable others to comfort them. 

Q: Were there any downsides or problems?

A: There was no downside to bringing Luke to class. He just made all of us happier. 

Q: Would you recommend the use of therapy dogs for youth programs?

A: Definitely. I highly recommend therapy dogs in any situation where you want to see people smile, be calm, show their caring side and feel part of a community. Dogs have a way of bringing people together, and usually bring out the best in all of us.

MORE ABOUT...

Leslie Gravino

Leslie Gravino holds a Master’s in Art Therapy. She has worked with adolescent girls in a residential setting, and later in the San Francisco Mental Health System for 18 years, where she started businesses that trained people who were homeless and psychiatrically disabled to gain job skills. She then served as the Coordinator of Vocational Services at Las Positas College, Livermore, CA. There she started a computer repair business on campus that served the community. She also was a Psychology Counseling Instructor teaching the following courses: Diversity Issues in America, Career and College Planning and Success Strategies for College.

Luke was featured in several videos that Temescal Associates created to help kids better understand the COVID-19 pandemic. To watch these videos and learn more about My Pal Luke, click here.