Why It Works
The human-animal bond can impact people and animals in positive ways. Research shows therapy dogs can reduce stress physiologically (cortisol levels) and increase attachment responses that trigger oxytocin – a hormone that increases trust in humans.
Dogs also react positively to animal-assisted activities. In response to the human-animal bond, dogs produce oxytocin and decrease their cortisol levels when connecting with their owner. Often dogs feel the same when engaging in animal assisted activities as if they were at home, depending on the environmental context.
Seven in ten (71%) dog parents say their pup has made them happier people, with nearly four in five saying it's easier to wake up in the morning because their dog greets them.
About half of pup parents say their dog has made them more patient (54%), responsible (52%) or affectionate (47%).
More than four in five (83%) say their dog has made them more active, with 72% saying their dog plays a role in their exercise decisions.
In addition, dogs are the ultimate therapists with 85% of dog parents saying their dog has helped them get through a difficult time in their life.
A recent report highlighted children working with therapy dogs experienced increased motivation for learning, resulting in improved outcomes.
Therapy dogs are being used to support children with social and emotional learning needs, which in turn can assist with literacy development.
Research into the effects of therapy dogs in schools is showing a range of benefits including:
decreases in learner anxiety behaviours resulting in improved learning outcomes, such as increases in readingand writing levels
positive changes towards learning and improved motivation, and
enhanced relationships with peers and teachers due to experiencing trust and unconditional love from a therapy dog. This in turn helps students learn how to express their feelings and enter into more trusting relationships.
*Statistics taken from BarkBox Study