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Our Mission
Protecting children.
Protecting dogs.
Creating safer communities through education, across the UK.
A National Programme with Local Impact
Bark Smart is a UK-wide dog safety education programme working with schools, families and communities to prevent avoidable dog-related incidents.
While our work is already active across multiple areas, we are developing structured, large-scale delivery models that can be implemented both locally and nationally.
Our mission is simple:
to ensure every child, regardless of location, has access to dog safety education.
Preston – The First Bark Smart City
Preston is set to become the first city in the United Kingdom to deliver dog safety education at scale through the Bark Smart programme.
This coordinated, city-wide initiative will reach:
This is not simply about delivering sessions in schools.
It is about creating a long-term shift in how children, families and communities understand dogs, recognise risk and build safer everyday interactions.
Preston represents the first step in demonstrating how Bark Smart can be delivered at scale, creating a model for other towns and cities across the UK.
Why Dog Safety Education Matters More Than Ever
Dog-related incidents are increasing, and the need for preventative education has never been greater.
Despite this, structured dog safety education remains limited, particularly at the scale needed to create real change.
Bark Smart addresses this gap through early, practical education that helps children understand behaviour, recognise warning signs, and respond safely.
This protects both children and dogs.
Beyond the Classroom – A Whole Community Approach
The Bark Smart model extends beyond schools into homes and communities.
Children receive structured education in school, while families are supported through the Bark Smart Parent Course, allowing learning to continue at home.
This creates consistency across:
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School
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Home
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Public environments
When parents and children share the same understanding, the impact becomes deeper, more consistent and longer lasting.
As Bark Smart expands nationally, partnerships with police, local authorities and community organisations will continue to play a vital role.
Why It Matters
When a dog bite happens, everyone is affected.
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A child can be injured.
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A family can be traumatised.
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A dog can be blamed, rehomed or destroyed.
Most of these incidents are preventable.
Education changes that.