Our animal management team has developed a free programme to teach dog safety to children and adults to help reduce the risk of dog attacks.

Apply for a DogSmart or DogSafe training session

DogSmart school programme

Angus

We would like to offer your school the opportunity to take part in our new interactive presentation.

The programme is directed towards years 1 to 8. Unfortunately, at this stage, it is not suitable for pre-school children.

Children will learn: 

  • how to avoid being bitten by dogs.
  • the correct way to approach a dog they do not know.
  • the basic responsibilities of a dog owner.
  • the daily routine of an Animal Management Officer.

Some of your students may have had little or no prior contact with a dog, or have had an unpleasant experience with a dog. We provide the opportunity to safely interact with a real dog, but we can offer alternatives to those who are afraid of dogs.

The New Zealand Institute of Animal Management (NZIAM) has endorsed this programme and aims to have an officer visit every school in New Zealand to educate students about dog safety.

The Dog Safety presentation has been updated to closely align with Levels One and Three of the Health and Physical Education sections of the 2007 New Zealand Curriculum, and it helps schools achieve the following objectives:

  • Strand A (3) Safety Management – Identify risks and their causes and describe safe practices to manage these
  • Strand D (1) Community Resources – Identify and discuss obvious hazards in their local environment (i.e. dogs) and adopt simple safety practices.

DogSafe workplace training

This free workshop is designed to help prevent dog attacks on employees who come across dogs when entering private properties in the course of their work.

Dog attacks can be costly for employers. Staff who are physically injured may need time off work to recover. Attacks can also have a major emotional effect, leaving staff too scared to enter properties where there are dogs.

Nurse Maude, Fletcher EQR, Housing New Zealand, Child Youth and Family, the Probation Service are some of the organisations that use our service.

In a one-hour DogSafe workshop at your workplace we will:

  • help staff understand aggressive dog behaviour.
  • explain how to recognise the danger signs.
  • show how simple measures – like how to walk up a driveway – can avoid potential dog attacks.

Reading to dogs

Reading to dogs encourages children to practice their reading skills and develop a love of reading.

The programme uses dogs who are now the beloved pets of the Christchurch City Council Animal Control team. These furry friends have all been trained and tested for health, safety and temperament.

Find out more(external link)