This resource comprises a range of activities to explore the role of dogs in the military and encourages pupils to develop their historical enquiry skills. Military dogs and their jobs in World War I and World War II Activity 1 involves pupils exploring four different jobs dogs had during the world wars, why they were chosen for these jobs, and whether we should have expected them to do these jobs. In activity 2, pupils are asked to respond to the government’s war office request to lend their family dog to the British Army, by writing a letter to Dog World magazine. How do the military meet a dog’s welfare needs? In these tasks, pupils explore the five welfare needs and how the military make sure that military dogs’ needs are met. In activity 3, pupils sort statements into their correct welfare need, and in activity 4 pupils use source information to identify how the military look after their dogs in a training facility in Jordan.

Learning how to be responsible is part of growing up and so it’s important to fully consider all the responsibilities that are involved with owning and caring for a dog. Pupils are encouraged to test their knowledge, explore, discuss and form opinions, as they develop an understanding of what it means to be a responsible dog owner, and an awareness of the commitment involved in owning a dog. This is a quiz-based activity to test and expand pupils’ existing knowledge. It can be used as part of a PSHE or Citizenship topic about rights and responsibilities and as a follow-up activity after a visit from one of our Education and Community Officers. Some of the statements in the quiz are essential for a dog to be happy and healthy. How might a dog feel emotionally or physically if some of their needs are not met? List any feelings a dog might feel in each of the scenarios below. For younger or less able pupils there is a pupil sheet which includes suggested feelings to be used as prompts.

In these activities, pupils will practice their adding, subtraction and multiplication of numbers, and analyse data to find the answers while exploring the costs involved in owning a dog. In the optional activites, pupils practise their data analysis and Venn diagram skills as they investigate what is safe for dogs to eat and how much different dogs should eat to be happy and healthy. Activity 1 - Pupils use the ‘Vet’s price list’ (can be shared in pairs) to answer a series of questions about the cost of caring for a dog. Activity 2 - Pupils use the ‘Doggy items price list’ (can be shared in pairs) to locate answers and calculate the cost of things that dogs need. Activity 3 - The Jones family have adopted Lulu. Pupils answer five questions about how much it has cost the family, and how much they saved on vet bills and basic items by adopting Lulu from Dogs Trust. Activities 2 and 3 are for use with older and/or more able pupils, or could be used as a paired, group or whole class activity. Activity 4 - Pupils sort different foods and drinks into a Venn diagram showing which are safe and unsafe for dogs to eat, and what can be eaten safely by both dogs and humans. Pupils are also asked to think about what a dog owner can do to stop their dog eating something that could be dangerous for them. Activity 5 - Pupils analyse the table of data looking at dog size, weight and activity levels to determine how much food they should be eating per day and per meal. Pupils are asked to think about the consequences of not feeding a dog the correct amount, and especially what happens if an owner feeds them too much.

Our ‘Dog safety workshops’ teach children how to behave safely around dogs, ensuring the child-dog bond can be enjoyed to its fullest. The ‘Spot the problem’ story is designed to encourage children to consider and adapt how they behave around dogs, as well as identify common, everyday risks. Read the story 'Spot the problem’ As a class, or in pairs or groups. Deal with the problems There are 10 ‘problems’ included in the story, which could be considered problems for both the people and the dogs. Identify the problem Explain the problems Remove the problems

Getting a puppy is a big commitment, and it’s important that children and their families fully understand what is involved in owning a dog before getting one. Pupils read the story ‘ A new puppy’, which explores Jenny and her mum’s experience of getting a puppy and then answer ten questions about the story. The activity practices pupils’ reading comprehension skills with a focus on retrieving information, as well as developing their awareness and understanding of what is involved in owning a dog.