The Dogs Changing Classrooms — And How You Can Be Part of It

This week, I’m at one of the biggest pet industry conferences in the country.

There’s a lot here — new products, new ideas, a lot of innovation.

But not every conversation has been about products. Some of the most meaningful ones have been about impact.

One of those moments came when I met a nonprofit called Pets in the Classroom.

I had the opportunity to participate in a Marketing Innovation Lab at The Pet Summit/Global Pet Expo with them — working alongside a small group to build a marketing strategy designed to help them reach more schools and support more students.

Pets in the Classroom is a nonprofit that helps teachers bring animals into their classrooms by providing funding, resources, and education.

The goal isn’t just to have a class pet.

It’s to create an environment where students can:

• Feel calmer and more regulated
• Stay more engaged in learning
• Develop empathy and responsibility
• Experience connection in a way that sticks

It’s simple on the surface, but powerful in practice.

Why This Matters

We talk a lot about what dogs do for us at home.

But their impact doesn’t stop there.

Animals in learning environments have been shown to help reduce stress, improve focus, and support emotional development in students.

For some kids, especially those navigating anxiety or difficult environments, that presence can be grounding in a way nothing else is.

And that matters.

Because when a student feels safe and supported, everything else becomes more possible.

The Role of Dogs — Especially Big Dogs

If you’ve spent any time in our community, you know how many of your dogs are already doing this work.

Therapy visits.

Hospital visits.

Showing up quietly, calmly, and just being there. And big dogs have a unique way of doing this.

There’s something about a gentle giant — their presence, their steadiness — that can immediately shift the energy in a room.

The Innovation Lab wasn’t just an exercise — it was also a competition.

Each team built and presented a full strategy to help a nonprofit grow their reach and impact.

And I’m incredibly proud to share that our team was selected as the winner!

That means $10,000 will go directly toward funding the strategy we built for Pets in the Classroom — helping them expand into more classrooms and reach more students.

It’s one thing to talk about making a difference. It’s another to help create something that actually moves the needle.

And getting to be part of that is something I won’t forget.

How You Can Be Part of It

If you’re reading this, you’re already someone who cares deeply about your dog.

This is an opportunity to extend that impact.

If you have a dog with the right temperament, you might consider exploring therapy work.

If you already have a therapy dog, this is a mission you understand firsthand.

And even if that’s not your path, you can still support organizations like Pets in the Classroom by:

• Sharing their mission
• Connecting them with teachers or schools
• Spreading awareness within your community

Small actions can open the door to big impact.

At The Big Damn Dog Co., we talk a lot about giving big dogs more, better years.

But it’s also about what they do with those years.

The comfort they bring. The lives they touch.

The quiet, powerful role they play in the world around them.

This week was a reminder of what’s possible.

Not just for our dogs, but for the role they can play far beyond our homes.

— Sarah McLean