There are many ways that dogs enrich their owners' lives: comfort, security, companionship, unconditional love - the list goes on. Though our four-legged friends at home provide emotional support in their own ways, trained therapy dogs offer their own unique benefits the furry friends in our homes may not. Certified therapy dogs are required to pass the Canine Good Citizenship test for obedience that assesses temperament, walking, recall, reaction, listening and more to determine if its overall demeanor is calm and friendly enough to qualify. Not to be confused with a service dog which is trained to provide the handler with physical assistance, the ideal therapy dog is one that “sits next to [a person] and lets itself be pet,” according to the American Kennel Club.
Therapy dogs are known to aid those struggling with mental health challenges and disorders in various ways by lowering stress levels, decreasing blood pressure and heart rate, promoting the body’s natural stress-relief system and more. Exposure to these calming companions also enhances social interactions, leading to decreased anxiety and depression, improved emotional control and a higher self-image. The dogs offer a soothing, non-judgmental presence that can build confidence in communication, improve focus and attention, development of social skills and even boost literacy skills in children.
On the physical side, the dopamine that interactions with therapy dogs stimulates in the human brain increases feelings of pleasure, motivation and movement. This chemical reaction improves mood, lessens pain, enhances cardiovascular health and develops motor skills among other benefits in both children and adults alike.
Though therapy dogs are not a treatment on their own, constant exposure to one can be crucially beneficial to anyone who may need or want to improve their lives. They may not wear the obvious neon vest like service dogs, but their calm demeanor and constant support has a positive impact on any who get the chance to be around a therapy dog.