At first glance, Kim Raines’s classroom seems like a regular AP Precalculus class, students lined up in neat rows scribbling away at math problems, and the smell of pencil lead and Expo markers filling up the room. But one thing is very different about this math class from others-the teacher’s special assistant, Archie. Archie is a certified therapy dog and part of the Lambert Pack, and he never fails to bring a smile to Raine’s Precalculus students.
When Raines first got Archie in the summer of 2021, her intention was to simply keep him as a family pet. However, after noticing his sweet and caring nature, as well as his phenomenal ability to connect with other people, she was inspired to begin the process of training Archie to become a Lambert therapy dog.
“He just has such a sweet and loving personality, if ever a dog was ever meant to be a therapy dog, he is,” Raines explained. “He just loves to give and get affection.”
To begin the training process, Archie took the Rucker dog training classes, an esteemed local program which Duck and many other Lambert Pack members participated in. After finishing the classes, aspiring therapy dogs are expected to pass the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test, with ten main criteria each dog must complete perfectly. The testing requirements include but are not limited to: accepting friendly strangers, walking on a loose leash, obeying commands and reactions to other dogs. Since Archie and the rest of the Lambert Pack are school therapy dogs and not just regular therapy dogs, they are expected to complete and pass the CGC test every year.
Archie officially became a certified therapy dog in May of 2022 and has been coming to school as a part of the Lambert Pack ever since. Throughout the three years he’s been here, Raines has been able to see the positive effects he’s had on the students in her classroom.
“If they’re coming in and they’re agitated about something, he sort of diffuses that,” Raines described. “And so having him here, it just creates a warmer environment.”
AP Precalculus is one of the hardest classes at Lambert, and its workload can be very demanding for students who are also dealing with the other stressors of high school. According to the National Library of Medicine, having a therapy dog for students can decrease test anxiety, lessen academic stress, promote a more positive learning environment and simply make it more fun for students to come to the classroom. Creating a more supportive learning atmosphere can help students improve academically, and also bring more joy into their daily lives.
“They [therapy dogs] just bring such a calm present to any classroom,” junior Anvitha Devakonda commented. “Whether it’s math or social studies.”
The positive impacts of having therapy dogs like Archie in classrooms cannot be understated. Archie brightens the lives of Raine’s students and other people across the school with his friendly and lovable personality. Little by little, him and the rest of the Lambert Pack are creating a safer and happier student experience at Lambert.
