'The aim is to create safer communities': Preston school kids get lessons on dog safety

Bark Smart visited St. Francis’ Catholic Primary School in Goosnargh last week, where they delivered a highly interactive and engaging dog safety education programme to pupils.

What is Bark Smart’s mission?

Bark Smart is a dog safety initiative created to teach children how to confidently and safely interact with dogs, whether at home, in public, or within the wider community.

With more dogs than children now living in UK households, Bark Smart says their mission remains simple but vital: to reduce preventable dog bites, protect children, and create safer communities for both people and dogs.

A key part of Bark Smart’s mission is also to protect dogs from stress and misunderstanding.

By teaching children to recognise when a dog is worried, uncomfortable, or needs space, the programme helps prevent situations where dogs may feel forced to react, supporting safer and more positive interactions and helping keep dogs in loving homes.

Teaching dog safety at a young age is crucial says Bark Smart who explained: “Children who understand how dogs communicate are more confident, calmer, and safer around dogs, reducing the risk of bites and accidents. Early education helps build empathy, responsibility, and respect, skills that benefit children not just around dogs, but in everyday life.”

So what happened at the session?

Every Bark Smart lesson is carefully designed to empower children with practical knowledge that protects both them and the dogs they encounter.

The session was attended by the dedicated Bark Smart handlers and dogs, including Ann with Albert, her Tibetan Spaniel, and Angela with Boomer, her gentle Newfy-Poo.

Their involvement gave pupils the invaluable opportunity to practise safe interactions and recognise real-life dog body language in a calm, controlled environment.

Bark Smart were also honoured to be joined by representatives from Lancashire Constabulary, who supported the session by helping children identify different signs of dog body language and understand what these behaviours mean.

Their presence reinforced how essential early dog safety education is and highlighted the role awareness plays in preventing incidents before they happen.

During the workshop, pupils took part in fun demonstrations and hands-on learning activities designed to help them understand boundaries, respectful behaviour, and how to stay safe around dogs.

What has been said about the session?

Bark Smart Founder Mikki said: “The children and staff at St. Francis’ were absolutely fantastic across all of our sessions. Their enthusiasm for learning about dog safety really shone through, and every pupil passed the post-session quiz with flying colours. St. Francis’ is now officially recognised as a Bark Smart School. We would also like to express our sincere thanks to the representatives from Lancashire Constabulary for attending and supporting the sessions, and to Macdonald Construction for kindly sponsoring the visit.”

How can I get involved in the programme?

Schools, academies, nurseries, and SEND settings interested in delivering Bark Smart dog safety education to their pupils are encouraged to get in touch to discuss workshops, availability, and funding options.

Businesses and organisations looking to support this lifesaving initiative can contact Bark Smart to explore sponsorship and community partnerships, Your support helps ensure more children receive vital dog safety education at no cost to schools.