Instructions
Animals can be trained to do amazing jobs that help people and our community. Let's learn about some of these helpful animal partners! Complete the activities below.
Activity 1: Match the Helper!
Some animals are trained for very important jobs. Draw a line from the animal's job in Column A to what it does in Column B.
| Column A: Animal Job | Column B: What They Do |
| 1. Police Dog | A. Helps people who are blind or have trouble seeing to move around safely. |
| 2. Guide Dog | B. Helps people feel calm and happy, often in hospitals or schools. |
| 3. Search and Rescue Dog | C. Helps police officers keep our community safe and find clues. |
| 4. Therapy Animal | D. Helps find people who are lost, sometimes after an earthquake or big storm. |
Activity 2: A Service Dog's Day
Service dogs are trained to help people with everyday tasks. Read the story below and fill in the blanks using the words from the word box.
My name is Buddy, and I am a service dog. My job is to _______________ my person, Alex. Every morning, I wait patiently while Alex gets my _______________. When we go outside, I make sure Alex stays _______________ by looking both ways before we cross a street. If Alex drops something, I can pick it up. I can even pull on a special rope to help _______________ the refrigerator door! When Alex feels worried, I put my head on Alex's lap to help them feel _______________. I love my job!
Activity 3: True or False?
Read each sentence below. Are they true or false? Circle your answer.
- It takes a lot of training and patience to teach an animal a job.
True / False - Only dogs can be trained to help people.
True / False - A therapy horse can help people feel better just by being gentle and calm.
True / False
Activity 4: You're the Trainer!
If you could train any animal to do a helpful job, what would it be? Draw your animal helper in the box and write about its special job on the lines below.
My animal helper is a:
Its special job is to:
Answer Key
Activity 1: Match the Helper!
- 1. Police Dog → C. Helps police officers keep our community safe and find clues.
- 2. Guide Dog → A. Helps people who are blind or have trouble seeing to move around safely.
- 3. Search and Rescue Dog → D. Helps find people who are lost, sometimes after an earthquake or big storm.
- 4. Therapy Animal → B. Helps people feel calm and happy, often in hospitals or schools.
Activity 2: A Service Dog's Day
My name is Buddy, and I am a service dog. My job is to help my person, Alex. Every morning, I wait patiently while Alex gets my leash. When we go outside, I make sure Alex stays safe by looking both ways before we cross a street. If Alex drops something, I can pick it up. I can even pull on a special rope to help open the refrigerator door! When Alex feels worried, I put my head on Alex's lap to help them feel calm. I love my job!
Activity 3: True or False?
- It takes a lot of training and patience to teach an animal a job. → True
- Only dogs can be trained to help people. → False (Horses, monkeys, and even parrots can be trained to help!)
- A therapy horse can help people feel better just by being gentle and calm. → True
Activity 4: You're the Trainer!
Answers will vary based on the student's creativity.