BSU's New Care Dogs
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BSU’s beloved Care Dog scheme
Thursday, 9 October, 2025Did you know? Bath Spa University has a growing team of accredited Care Dogs, available to students looking for a well-earned study break. Whether you’re missing your family dog or want to de-stress with one of our paw-fect pals, our Care Dogs are available to book for drop-in sessions and wellbeing walks.
World Mental Health Day is right around the corner (10 October), highlighting that the Care Dog Scheme is more important than ever.
It’s a well-known fact that spending time with animals can improve our wellbeing. From providing a sense of comfort and security, reducing stress and anxiety, and providing endless hours of entertainment, dogs are often used in therapeutic activities.
BSU’s Care Dogs have become campus celebrities. Since launching the scheme, the University’s pack of four-legged friends have grown to a family of 20 and delight staff and students across our university campuses. Between the dogs and their owners, they volunteer their time to support students, putting a smile on everyone’s face.
As a new cohort of students arrived on campus, BSU welcomed a few more friendly faces to its Care Dog team. Accredited by certified assessors, Canine Concern, each new dog is required to complete a canine interview before they’re officially welcomed to the pack. A tick box assessment decides whether dogs are equipped to visit places like hospitals, care homes, and schools. All dogs should be suitable for large outside spaces and confined inside places.
Projects and Activities Coordinator in BSU’s Student Wellbeing Services, Steven Parsons, discussed the scheme:
“When the Care Dog scheme first started a few years ago, there were a handful of dogs offering a few sessions. Now, the scheme is home to 20 dogs and their owners, offering almost daily interactions with students across all Bath based campuses. One of the reasons for the expansion of the scheme is the recognition by BSU of the value and importance of the incredible work of the dogs, and the benefit that students feel from it. Demand from students to engage with the dogs is huge and this highlights how important the scheme has become, and its vital place as part of the BSU Community.”
Over the summer, BSU welcomed a whopping five new pups to the pack, with three more dogs coming on board very soon...
Meet the new care dogs:
Zed
- Springer Spaniel / Poodle
- Favourite food: Sausages.
- Favourite walk: Anywhere by the sea.
- Loves: Chasing tennis balls, belly rubs, sleeping in the sun.
- Hates: Long car journeys and carrots.
Circe
- Jack Russell / Chihuahua
- Favourite food: Cooked chicken.
- Favourite walk: The Firs park in Combe Down.
- Loves: A bleating soft-toy goat that was given to me as a present.
- Hates: Noisy motorbikes.
Buzz
- Cockapoo
- Favourite food: Everything other than salad.
- Favourite walk: Anywhere near water and fields.
- Loves: Walks, sitting on laps and tennis balls.
- Hates: Fireworks and salad.
Ludo
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Favourite food: Whimzee stick.
- Favourite walk: Rainbow Woods, or really anywhere with the favourite human!
- Loves: Cuddles and my rat toy.
- Hates: Not knowing where you are at any given time and moment.
Colin
- Labradoodle
- Favourite food: Sausages or left-over Sunday dinner.
- Favourite walk: On the beach by my house.
- Loves: Belly scratches, kisses, sausages and being chased by other dogs.
- Hates: Being woken up too early for walks. Lazy labradoodle. Oh, and the vacuum cleaner.
Students can meet our Care Dogs by viewing their individual profiles on our dedicated webpage and visit MyWellbeing to view all available drop-ins and walks during the academic year. To keep up with the Care Dog’s adventures, follow @bathspastudentwellbeing on Instagram.