Learning Respect and Care with a Therapy Dog at HANKEL

HANKEL welcomed the Taiwan Therapy Dog Training Team for a talk and interactive session with a special “dog teacher”—Xitang. Through meeting and interacting with Xitang, students learned about animals’ needs, feelings, and personal space.

The team explained how former stray dogs receive professional training to become therapy dogs that support people of different ages and needs. Xitang’s story helped students see how an animal that once needed care can become a source of comfort and support for others.

Before the activities, students learned how to interact with dogs kindly and respectfully. With the team’s guidance, they hid treats for Xitang to find, fed the dog by hand, and took turns lying down while Xitang searched for treats nearby. These activities encouraged students to observe the dog’s responses, practise patience, and build trust.

At HANKEL, we bring learning about life and care into real experiences. Meeting Xitang gave students an opportunity to understand the role of therapy dogs and explore how respect and kindness can strengthen the connection between people and animals.

We thank the team and Xitang for bringing our students a meaningful lesson filled with smiles and warmth.