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Bark Smart Visits Ashdene Primary School in Wilmslow


The Bark Smart team recently visited Ashdene Primary School in Wilmslow, delivering our dog safety workshops for children across two fantastic days. During our visit we worked with pupils from Year 1 through to Year 6, helping them learn how to behave safely and respectfully around dogs.


Dog safety education is increasingly important for schools across the UK. Many children grow up with dogs at home or regularly interact with dogs in parks, public spaces, and with friends and family. The Bark Smart programme is designed to give children the knowledge and confidence they need to understand dogs and stay safe.



Teaching Children How to Stay Safe Around Dogs




Our interactive Bark Smart workshops are designed specifically for primary school pupils. Each session combines engaging activities, real-life scenarios, and visual learning to help children understand how dogs communicate and how we should behave around them.


During the sessions, pupils learn:


  • How to recognise happy, scared, and worried dog body language

  • Why dogs sometimes need space and quiet time

  • The Bark Smart Safety Code for interacting with dogs

  • What to do if a dog runs up to you unexpectedly

  • Why respect and calm behaviour around dogs is so important



The children at Ashdene Primary School were incredibly engaged throughout the workshops. They asked thoughtful questions, took part in discussions, and showed a real interest in learning how to understand dogs better.



Meeting the Bark Smart Dogs



For many pupils, the highlight of the day was meeting the Bark Smart dogs.


Spider and Albert, our friendly Tibetan Spaniels, along with Viva the Afghan Hound, helped demonstrate safe interactions and calm behaviour around dogs. Meeting real dogs allows children to put their learning into practice in a controlled and supportive environment.


This hands-on experience helps reinforce the key lessons from the workshops and makes the learning far more memorable for the pupils.



A Fantastic School Community



We would like to say a huge thank you to the staff and pupils at Ashdene Primary School for making us feel so welcome. The enthusiasm and participation from everyone involved made the workshops a real success.


We are proud to welcome Ashdene Primary School to our growing network of Bark Smart Schools, all working together to improve dog safety education for children.



Continuing the Bark Smart Journey



We’re excited to return soon to deliver sessions for Reception pupils, helping even more children develop the knowledge and confidence they need to stay safe around dogs.


At Bark Smart, our mission is simple:

to help children and dogs live safely and happily together.





Bring Bark Smart to Your School



If you would like your pupils to benefit from the Bark Smart dog safety workshops, we would love to visit your school.


Our sessions are fully interactive, engaging and age-appropriate, helping children understand how to behave safely and respectfully around dogs. Every workshop includes practical learning activities and the opportunity for pupils to meet one of the Bark Smart dogs, making the experience memorable and impactful.


We also currently have part-funded workshop placements available in some areas, helping schools access the programme at a reduced cost.


📩 To find out more or check availability in your area, please get in touch.


👉 Book a Bark Smart Workshop for Your School


Help your pupils become Bark Smart Champions and learn the skills they need to stay safe around dogs.


Bark Smart delivers dog safety workshops for schools across Cheshire, Manchester, Liverpool, Lancashire and the wider UK.



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