Published on:
05
March 2013
Pupils at Banchory Primary School have completed a family dog walk event as part of a project aimed at developing different skills.
Education, Sport and Leisure Convener, Councillor Ellen Forson, said: "The pupils came up with the idea of a family dog walk as they had been looking at developing different skills.
"As confident individuals they realised it was a way to assess risk, take advice and make informed decisions."
The pupils completed their own risk assessment form, contacted Clackmannanshire Council dog warden as well as professional dog caring company, Safe Paws from Stirling, before the event.
They also used local ordnance survey maps to plan the safest route and one that they hoped dogs would enjoy. It was so successful that the school may make it a regular part of their Health and Wellbeing provision at Banchory Primary.
Primary five pupil, Kayla McCutcheon said: "I was surprised that there were so many people and dogs. It made the walk more successful and it was fun to be with so many people."
Rhiannon Green, also in primary five, added: "It was amazing because all the dogs were there and new dogs got to meet each other. My two dogs came and enjoyed the long walk. It was nice to see other dogs and we had treats to give them that they enjoyed very much. It was lovely to have our mums and dads there to watch us all have fun."
Rhiannon's dad Alan went on: "It was brilliant, I loved it. I brought our two dogs, Shadow and Isla. The event was so good, I would recommend it to everyone, even those without a dog"
This sentiment was echoed by Ellen Watt, mother of Ben in P5, who was accompanied on the walk by their dog Spencer
She said: "I would definitely do it again for the kids as I enjoyed it. The dogs were all good together and it was well planned and well organised."