Last term, we were delighted to officially welcome Hebe to the St George’s team. Hebe is Miss Fox, our Head’s gorgeous Stabyhoun, who has joined us as a PAWS Therapy Dog in training. Gentle, patient and fond of attention, she is a natural fit for her new role supporting wellbeing across the school.
A PAWS Therapy Dog follows a specific training plan to support emotional wellbeing in settings such as schools, colleges and workplaces. The dog’s temperament has to be assessed initially to ensure there is a good fit for training and the role of being a therapy dog. Once approved for training, the handler and dog work through a series of modules and tests, building up a portfolio of skills. Miss Fox and Hebe are currently working on increasing distraction levels with the commands and tricks she already knows as well as acquiring new skills.
PAWS dogs are not classroom pets or clinical therapy animals. Instead, they provide a calm, predictable presence, offering reassurance, connection and emotional regulation, particularly during busy or pressured moments of the school day. Dogs in training, like Hebe, gradually become familiar with the school environment and learn how to respond gently and appropriately to different age groups and situations.
Each Wednesday, Hebe takes part in our Wellness Walks, offering calm, comfort and moments of quiet joy to everyone she meets. The girls adore her, and we suspect the feeling is very much mutual. She also enjoys visits into the boarding houses and being a keen supporter of St George’s sports matches.
What makes Hebe extra special is her breed. The Stabyhoun is one of the rarest breeds of dog in the world. The name of this Dutch breed from Friesland means a ‘stand by me dog’ - this is very apt for Hebe who likes to be with people, ideally as close as possible! They were originally bred as farm dogs and often proved adept at hunting moles, but Hebe doesn’t seem to have this gene. Instead her strengths lie with giving others strong emotional connections.
And her name? Miss Fox is a Classicist of course and named her Ἥβη after Hebe who is the Ancient Greek goddess of youth.
Hebe’s gentle midweek presence does more than brighten our Wednesdays. It quietly reinforces the culture of care, connection and balance that sits at the heart of life at St George’s.