NERO - A Working Greyhound
Three years ago GAP contacted me to ask if I'd be interested in taking part in the State
Government funded Responsible Pet Education Programme, run through the Department of Primary
Industries, with my greyhound Nero. This Programme takes dogs into schools to help educate children
how to approach and handle them safely.
Before Nero could be accepted he had to pass a temperament test. In the years I've had Nero, he
and I have been many places together, on street walks, visiting nursing homes, visiting
intellectually handicapped children, attending our local agricultural shows as GAP representatives,
and he's well used to being around lots of people. Yes, I thought Nero could handle being in school
rooms with children, but I didn't give much thought to the part I'd be taking.
We headed down to Melbourne to undergo our assessment. Now Nero is a very dignified fellow, and
he must appear cool, calm and collected in all circumstances. Despite being a little overwhelmed by
the strangeness of being in a huge empty pavilion he has complete trust in me and waited quietly
until it was our turn to be assessed. The first part of our assessment required us to appear before
the "Rent-a-Crowd" people. This was no problem for him as he took no notice of what these rather
noisy and unruly people were getting up to, and when a strange lady rushed up and gave me a hug,
just to see if Nero had any protective reaction, he just looked the other way.
Next we had to climb a set of steps, and then someone knocked over a chair in front of Nero. He
gave no reaction at all. It was no surprise to hear that Nero had passed his assessment! Then, to
my dismay, I had to wait around for an interview. Was I going to be temperament tested too? I
answered the questions as best I could, and that was it.
Several weeks later I was contacted to say we'd both passed, and that we'd need to attend a
Training Day before we could start going to schools. We attended this, had a few practice runs at
home, and then we were ready to start! We went along to our first school with another Educator and
her dog, to see what it was all about. I began to think I was a little crazy. How could I get up in
front of a bunch of kids and talk? I was terrified! I read and re-read all the information and
practiced for hours.
I don't remember much about the first school that Nero and I did on our own, but somehow I
managed it, and I don't think I made too many mistakes. I do remember that Nero handled it
beautifully and was his usual well mannered self as the children went through the steps of how to
greet a dog correctly.
Since that first school, Nero and I have traveled long distances and visited most of the schools
in our surrounding area. He is a real trooper and I'm so proud of how he's coped with all that I've
asked of him, with calmness and trust, and in his usual dignified manner. The children have often
never seen a greyhound before, and he has been called a race horse, a sausage dog, a Labrador, a
Great Dane and a Poodle, but most recognise him as a greyhound.
The smallest school we have visited had 12 children, and the largest group will be in a couple
of weeks with 60 prep kids, but we can manage that. Nero is a true professional, and is the only
dog I've ever owned that earns money to help pay for his upkeep! He knows when I put my uniform on
that it's a school day, and he bounces and prances around in excitement. I'm hoping that one of my
other greyhounds, Hilary, will eventually be a school dog too, but I just can't imagine visiting a
school without my wonderful companion, my BBD (Big Black Dog), Nero, beside me, quietly striding
along as we walk through a school gate together and into a classroom. He's a wonderful ambassador
for the greyhound breed.
Bea Anderson
Pawnote: there are now several GAP greyhounds that are part of the Responsible Pet Education
Programme and regularly visit Victorian schools.
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