This is a short course that will explain some of the key links between theory and practice related to connection with a well-being dog in an education setting. The Dogs Connect Program has been implemented in every type of school setting and supports a shift in educational practice through teaching people how to connect with dogs in a healthy, balanced, meaningful, and sustainable way so that the dogs and humans all benefit from the opportunities that come from this connectedness. The results from this program include significant positive impacts on teaching and learning outcomes, increased school attendance, reduced school refusal, enhanced relationship development, and students reporting that they feel safer in the classroom. This course will help students to explore how this connection and these impacts can be felt in a school community, as well as building understanding around how the Polyvagal Theory underpins how this connection is built and sustained. This course is delivered as modules made up of self-paced video lessons which will introduce, explain, and demonstrate exactly how the connection with an animal can help to reach the learning brain and become a valuable addition to existing intervention and prevention strategies in an education setting. Optional one hour live broader student community discussions: • Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 2 pm Eastern Time with Deb Dana, LCSW • Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 11 am Eastern Time with Stephen Porges, PhD Students will have access to the course for 180 days from the date of purchase.