This article clarifies how animals may be of help in education – an approach called animal assisted education (AAE). AAE offers an improved and more interesting way of teaching. It also makes the process of education more effective and attractive to students. AAE may facilitate better communication between the students as well as the teachers; and, in general, establish better relationships in the classroom. This method of education is becoming increasingly popular. It is important to understand in which ways and how exactly animals may assist students and educators to achieve their goals. Therefore, the goal of this article is to summarize how AAE may be implemented in schools and what benefits may arise from its use. In general, there are many different ways to include animals in children’s edu­cation; whether this simply be the presence of the animal in class, letting children read to the animal, or spending time in the outdoors while engaging in a physical activity. Importantly, AAE may also be used in teaching children with special needs. Dogs are most commonly involved in AAE, but notably, it is also possible to use small mammals, farm animals, or cats. Ultimately, the inclusion of AAE is dependent on the creativity and determination of the teacher, and, undoubtedly, the cooperation and support from the school management.

Czech University of Life Sciences Faculty of Agrobiology Food and Natural Resources Department of Ethology and Companion Animal science Prague Czech Republic

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