Photo – BGS students with Polo, Mrs Thompson and Winnie.

After nearly 10 years of service as a Pets As Therapy Dog at BGS, Mrs Thompson’s (Teaching Assistant) Labradoodle, Polo, hung up his collar during the Autumn Term and is now settling into retirement after bringing joy to so many students and staff. Polo’s very big paw prints are now being filled by Winnie, who is an Irish Setter.

The Edit had the opportunity to interview Winnie’s owner, Mrs Thompson, to find out more about this calming Irish Setter.

How old is Winnie?

Winnie is a 4-year-old Irish Setter & the breed can also be known as a Red Setter.

When did Winnie join your family?

Winnie came into our family at the tender age of 12 weeks, very small, very cuddly and she very quickly settled in with Polo.

What training did Winnie undertake?

Winnie’s training started almost immediately. Once fully vaccinated, she was soon being introduced to life. Getting used to wearing a collar & lead and walking calmly was a little bit of a challenge for her, after all, wasn’t the lead a toy to play tug with! It is very important to get a puppy used to all sounds, smells, movement and to reassure them that not everything can be chased and not to be alarmed at loud noises or sudden movement. Very quickly, Winnie and I were off to obedience classes; these were great fun and as she was a bit of an independent thinker, I had to work very hard at keeping her attention. Gradually she matured, training became easier for her and I could see that she had the potential to be a future therapy dog. 

When she was around 2 1/2 years old, I started bringing her into school with Polo for an hour, so that she could start to get used to the sights and sounds of a very busy school day. She would take her lead from Polo and seeing him so calm with the students settled her, this was an invaluable element to her training. When she reached 3 years of age, I felt she was ready to undergo her Pets As Therapy assessment; she passed with flying colours, enabling her to be part of the team.

Why did Polo retire?

As Winnie became more confident in school, I really did have to consider retiring Polo. It was a difficult decision for me to make. We were a team and had worked closely together for the last eleven years. He was fast approaching his 14th birthday. Although he was still in good health, I could see he was starting to tire. He found retirement difficult to start with and couldn’t really understand why he wasn’t coming into school with me. He has now settled into his new regime and I think he is secretly enjoying his lie-ins in the morning. Polo has left very big paw prints to fill, but Winnie is certainly starting to fill these.

What are the benefits of having a therapy dog in school?

The benefits of having a therapy dog in school are endless. Their cuddles have a wonderful calming effect for the anxious child. A wag of the tail can turn tears to smiles & a gentle nudge reassures that everything will be ok.

What is Winnie’s timetable?

Winnie is in school each day from 8.00 am to 12.15 pm. She is kept busy seeing both Junior and Senior students and she enjoys all their special cuddles… Plus sneaky cuddles from the staff too.

The difference between Polo and Winnie’s personality?

Winnie and Polo are very different in appearance. They are both the same height, Polo has a very curly woolly coat, whereas Winnie’s is much sleeker and silkier. But what they both share is the same wonderfully kind and caring temperament. They both have a twinkle in their eye and have the potential to be quite mischievous.

Most importantly, what is Winnie’s favourite treat?

Winnie has many favourite treats, but I think if I had to pick her most favourite, it would be cheese.