Genk (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Don Bosco Secondary School in Genk welcomed a 4-month-old puppy, Ninja, owned by ICT coordinator Emanuel Vanderhallen. Ninja will provide emotional support to students, with supervised interactions guided by staff and Director Karen Ceyssens.
As VRT News reported, Don Bosco Secondary School in Genk welcomed a new arrival this school year. The school’s newest addition to the community is a 4-month-old dog called Ninja. Emanuel Vanderhallen, ICT coordinator at the school and Ninja’s owner, initially came up with the idea of bringing a school dog into the community.
Vanderhallen said the plan was inspired by his own experience as a child.
“When I was ten, I lost a close friend and found it difficult to talk about my feelings. Being with a dog helped me express myself. I have had several dogs since then, but it never occurred to me to bring one to a school—until now,”
he said.
What can Genk’s Don Bosco Puppy Ninja do for students?
Before officially starting at school, Ninja took part in a short practice period during the summer holidays. Vanderhallen guided the puppy through classrooms, hallways, and playgrounds to help him become familiar with the environment. Today, Sep 2, 2025, marked Ninja’s first official day at the school. The school said Ninja’s presence is expected to provide comfort and support to students.
“Deliberately a day later than the students, because September 1st is always a busy day,”
says Vanderhallen.
“We’ve prepared him as best we could for the school environment. I even rang the school bell at home.”
The students of Don Bosco Secondary School were excited the first time they had a chance to meet Ninja, the school’s new puppy. The staff said students were rather excited about the puppy, but also needed to be reminded about how to engage a young dog.
“They are very enthusiastic, so we have to keep them in check,”
said Emanuel Vanderhallen, the school’s ICT coordinator and Ninja’s owner. He added that students are being given clear instructions on how to behave around the dog.
“If too many students are demanding his attention at the same time, it can get overwhelming for him,”
Vanderhallen adds.
“The students should therefore first ask if they can take him for a walk during recess. We might take turns for this. We’ll also consider which students most need a relaxing moment with Ninja.”
School Director Karen Ceyssens highlighted the benefits of having a dog at school. She said research shows dogs can improve psychological and social well-being.
“Ninja provides social and emotional support for students during conversations,”
Ceyssens said.
“He can reduce stress in anxious situations and offer a sense of calm and comfort. We see him as a therapy dog for both teachers and students.”
School dog programs have been introduced in Belgium in recent years. In 2020, Sint-Lutgardis School in Ghent brought in a therapy dog to help students manage stress and improve focus. In 2022, Vrije Basisschool in Leuven introduced a dog to support children with reading difficulties, allowing them to read aloud in a calm environment. Other schools across the country and in neighbouring European countries have also used dogs to provide emotional support and improve social well-being.
