Therapy Dogs: How They Boost Mental and Physical Health

by Blog Contributor | April 25, 2023 | children’s book, Children’s Books | 0 Comments

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Therapy dogs aren’t just man’s best friend; they’re also our companions in living a healthier and fuller life.

Alison Keenan is an excellent writer who offers a way to peer into the mind of a therapy dog. A dog who is out to discover her special role in life. This book about a therapy dog by Keenan portrays how our loving therapy companions might see the world. It is a heartwarming children’s book that any kid or adult should read.

With that in mind, it’s time to get into one of the main topics the book tackles: how do therapy dogs boost a person’s mental and physical health?

Let’s go ahead and find out!

First, Let’s Clear Up Some Confusion

Therapy dogs and service dogs have different job descriptions and roles.

Therapy dogs, often known as “comfort dogs,” help someone’s mental health by giving them comfort and attention. Their kind dispositions and unwavering love may be helpful for persons dealing with challenging health issues. But anybody can enjoy the presence of a therapy dog, unlike service dogs.

Service dogs are taught to carry out particular duties on their owner’s behalf. They undergo demanding, expensive, task-focused training designed expressly to assist their owners in coping with disability. The Americans with Disabilities Act has regulations allowing these dogs to go out publicly with their owners.

Also, the therapy dog is just a single kind of therapy animal. In addition to dogs and cats, llamas and alpacas can be used as emotional support animals. 

How Therapy Dogs Work to Enhance a Person’s Health

Some psychiatric diseases and mental health issues have been shown to benefit from therapy dogs. Patients diagnosed with various problems, such as Alzheimer’s disease, autism, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), ADHD, depression, and bipolar disorder, benefit from their interaction with therapy dogs and other companion animals.

Therapy dogs can also assist with physical health issues, occasionally leading to emotional difficulties. According to research, people who engage in animal-assisted therapy while recovering from painful surgery or a catastrophic accident may experience less pain. Studies have indicated that these connections can raise the hormone oxytocin, which improves mood and lowers cortisol, increasing stress.

Also, the book about a therapy dog by Keenan helps in a reading program for kids. This shows that therapy dogs can aid humans in many fields.

Which Dogs Can Become Therapy Dogs?

With some training, any friendly dog can become a therapy dog. Larger breeds, including Labradors, St. Bernards, Standard Poodles, and Golden Retrievers, are frequently utilized as therapy dogs. But if the dog and the person in need share a confined space, smaller breeds are better. Pomeranians and poodles are wise selections for such situations.

The breed of the dog only plays a small role in the dog’s good temperament. The dog’s upbringing and how uniformly its temperament develops are what matter most. Dogs are examined and studied for reactions to stimuli. Loud or perplexing noises, being suddenly grasped, or equipment like canes or wheelchairs are tested before becoming certified therapy animals.

There are several directories online if you want to learn more about getting a therapy dog. You can identify people and organizations close to you by conducting a Google search. Type in “therapy dog” and your city or town’s name.

We highly encourage you to read the book about a therapy dog by Keenan titled Piper Finds Her Special and enjoy a heartwarming read. You can also read it with kids, which is perfect because Piper (the therapy dog) helps in reading programs for children.

Therapy dogs are fantastic, and if you want to read a love story about them, visit Alison Keenan’s website by clicking here!