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Welcome to WOOFF – Well-being, Optimism and Opportunities through our Furry Friends

This Erasmus+ project brings together educators, researchers, and animal-assisted education specialists to develop multiple series of evidence-based dog-assisted interventions that enhance executive functions (EF) and social-emotional learning (SEL) in children.

Through structured programs, supported by teacher training and scientific research, WOOFF ensures that schools across Europe can adopt sustainable, ethical, and impactful dog-assisted interventions to enable children to learn better.

About the project

WOOFF at a Glance

WOOFF is a three-year project dedicated to integrating multiple series (set?) of dog-assisted interventions into school settings to foster learning, emotional resilience, and inclusion.

Our team consists of educators, SEN-specialists, DAE experts, and researchers from across Europe, working together to develop, test, and refine series of interventions that support students’ social and cognitive development.

Our Objectives:

  • Design and Pilot Series of Dog-Assisted SEL & EF Interventions

Design and pilot structured, evidence-informed series of dog-assisted educational interventions that support the development of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Executive Functions (EF) in primary school learners.

  • Build Educator Capacity for Dog-Assisted Education

Strengthen the professional capacity of educators and schools to implement dog-assisted interventions effectively, ethically, and sustainably.

  • Embed Dog-Assisted Education in School Practice

Support the integration of dog-assisted education into everyday school practice and establish conditions for its continued use beyond the project duration.

  • Establish a European Community of Practice

Build and sustain a European community of practice that enables knowledge exchange, quality assurance, and transfer of dog-assisted education across diverse educational contexts.

  • Research and Validate Educational Impact and Ethics

Evaluate and validate the effects of dog-assisted education on learners’ SES and EF through educational research, while monitoring ethical and One Health considerations.

Partners

Underneath an overview of our partnering schools, universities, and expert centers and other associated partners:

WOOFF in action

A dedicated space for:

  • Project milestones and updates
  • Live reports from WOOFF Lab Weeks, including event summaries and expert insights
  • Photos and videos from interventions in schools
  • Testimonials from teachers, students, and researchers
  • Important project announcements

Deliverables & Resources

A repository of all outputs, categorized for easy access:

Intervention Series

  • Over 30 structured, evidence-informed series of dog-assisted educational interventions that support the development of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Executive Functions (EF)

Teacher & Educator Resources

  • Training materials for teachers implementing dog-assisted education
  • Certification framework for educators
  • Guidelines for best practices in school settings

And: An open access handbook for primary schools and teachers on implementing DAE, containing:

  1. Introduction to Dog-Assisted Education
  2. Ethical Framework and Animal Welfare
  3. Preconditions for Implementation
  4. Implementation in Daily Educational Practice
  5. Designing DAE Interventions
  6. Individual Interventions for Executive Functions and Social Emotional Skills
  7. Group-Based DAE Activities
  8. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Impact Measurement
  9. Professional Development and Capacity Building
  10. Sustainability and School Policy Integration
  11. Case Studies and Good Practices
  12. Tools and Practical Resources

Scientific Research & Reports

  • Research and evidence base: literature review, research papers on effectiveness, and long-term impact studies on dog-assisted interventions.
  • Ethical framework and monitoring: guidelines for dog welfare monitoring and implementation standards (https://m-path.io/landing/)
  • Literature research

Dissemination & Public Engagement

  • WOOFF Connect event recordings and summaries
  • BARK podcast series, featuring expert discussions
  • European Community building and access