April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
HOOSICK FALLS
Shiloh's in class at St. Mary's Academy
Shiloh's in class at St. Mary's Academy
This year, her students got a surprise: The postcard featured a picture of Shiloh, a German Shepherd puppy Mrs. Christy is helping to raise for the monks of New Skete, who live in an Eastern Orthodox monastery in Cambridge. The monastery's main support is the breeding of German Shepherds and training of all breeds.
The teacher and her husband have been helping to socialize puppies at the monastery for three or four years, hoping to one day raise one at home.
After realizing that her adult German Shepherd, Raja - whom she got from New Skete - could use some company, Mrs. Christy decided to inquire about the latest batch of pups. She thought puppy-rearing would be a fun project both at home and for her students.
It worked out. For a few weeks, Shiloh is spending the days in the combined second- and third-grade classroom at St. Mary's Academy.
Raising a puppy is actually a lot like teaching elementary school, Mrs. Christy told The Evangelist: Small students and young pups all have high energy, lots of enthusiasm and short attention spans.
While Shiloh is learning about how to act with children while she's at school, the children are learning about how to properly take care of an animal.
The puppy, who is kennel trained, stays in her crate while Mrs. Christy is teaching. When nature calls, Shiloh starts scratching or whining, a sign the students understand. As a class, they line up and take Shiloh outside, with Mrs. Christy holding the leash.
The teacher made sure that her students knew that having a dog in the classroom does not mean putting work aside. On the first day of the school year, she told her classes that, if they couldn't focus, she would have to find a different way to socialize Shiloh.
Since then, the children have complied seamlessly.
Every day, the class takes Shiloh out to play a game of fetch. Mrs. Christy said it's good for both students and puppy. During recess, the seventh- and eighth-graders walk Shiloh around the playground.
Most of the students in Mrs. Christy's combined class own dogs, so they understand the responsibility that goes along with having a pet. For the ones who don't, having Shiloh at school has sparked an interest.
This is a good introduction to dogs, Mrs. Christy told The Evangelist: Her students are learning to respect animals, factoring in Shiloh's needs while planning their day.
"You can't just leave her in her crate all day long," the teacher explained. "When she needs something, do you totally ignore her, or do you have to clue into her body language?"
The parents enjoy the fact that there is a dog in the classroom almost as much as the kids do, Mrs. Christy said. At a recent open house, the students' parents couldn't wait to meet Shiloh, having already heard so much about her.
Although taking care of the dog is Mrs. Christy's responsibility, she does let her students help out. Around younger students, she makes sure that she is always the one holding the leash.
Some children enjoy giving Shiloh treats. The puppy can "get excited and jump up," Mrs. Christy said, but the students politely tell Shiloh to sit down.
This month, Shiloh goes back to the monastery for basic obedience training, after which she'll go to a waiting owner. Mrs. Christy says her students will have more visits from Raja to fill the space Shiloh will leave.[[In-content Ad]]
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