Materials Needed: The Prop Box with stuffed animal Brainstorm Form Appropriate Rubric: One for each student to complete during each role play. To download the student rubric, click here

The Lesson:

• Identify Need
• Introductory Activity
1. Brainstorm When and Where students might meet someone walking their dog.

• Define Steps and Sequences of Skill
1. Look at the person. Is the person friendly? Is the dog friendly? Use your knowledge of body language.
2. Complement the person about their dog
"What a beautiful dog you have."
3. Ask about the dog, breed, type age.
4. Introduce yourself.
5. Ask if the dog likes to meet new people.
6. Ask permission to pet the dog.
7 . Let the dog smell your hand.
8. Kneel to the dog's eye level.
9. Stroke the dog front to back slowly.
10. Compliment the dog. "good boy"
11. Talk as you stroke.
12. Say good-bye to the dog.
13. Stand up slowly.
14. Compliment the dog owner again.
15. Thank them for letting you pet their go.
16. Close conversation by saying "Nice to meet you."

• Model the Skill
• Role Plays/Classroom Discussion
• Applications
• Independent Uses: You may wish to have the students draw images of people who are approachable. See models.

You may wish to talk about safety, because some abductors use the gimmick of finding their "lost dog" to lure children into unsafe places.

Idioms: "Rub someone the wrong way."
"It made the hair on the back on my neck stand up!"

Extensions: Talk about "Special Dogs" like K-9, Seeing Eye Dogs, Hearing Dogs, Search & Rescue, Sheep Dogs.
Students can draw pictures of the dogs at work and present them to the class.

Students may also list their behaviors around working dogs.

Baxter, seen above, is a registered "Therapy Pet." He joins the group of other certified and licensed dogs who have been extensively trained. Most students do not appreciate the investment that is made in working dogs. Instruction about the preparation involved in these canine heroes can be eye opening.