Therapy Dogs HelpPeople Feel Good

I smiled when I read this quote, because, face it, puppies make us happy. (And it’s a lot cheaper than paying a real psychiatrist.)

“There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.” ~ Ben Williams

But really, this quote by Ben Williams holds a lot of truth to it. There have been numerous scientific and psychological studies that show the positive affects that dogs have on people.

These include:

• Lowering blood pressure

• Reducing heart rate and cholesterol

• Decreasing stress levels

• Relieving loneliness

Dog owners and dog lovers, of course don’t need to be told this. We may not be conscious of the exact things that are happening inside of us when we are around friendly dogs, but we know we feel good.

Growing up, our family always had dogs as pets and they were like members of the family. The best part of leaving the house was, and is, coming home for their greeting. It is such a great feeling! Dogs indeed bring a special light to our lives.

Ever notice that when you walk your dog, or see someone out with their dog, almost everyone you meet wants to pet it? There’s just something about our canine pals that touches people emotionally or spiritually. And it’s this something, this special bond, which makes dogs such good therapy animals. They bring this feeling to those most in need.

The following are just some of the positive impacts therapy dogs have on the people they meet:

• Therapy dogs bring cheer to patients in hospitals and nursing homes, helping them heal mentally and emotionally.

• They encourage strides in physical therapy, because people subconsciously try harder when the reward is visiting with and/or playing with the dog.

• Many schools and libraries have Animal Assisted Therapy programs, too; children, who would not normally read a book at all, will read to the visiting dogs.

• Patients in hospitals that are mentally withdrawn become more socially active and start to talk when the dogs come in.

• The dogs relieve loneliness in those who would not normally have another visitor.

• Staff members at all of these facilities are also positively affected by the presence of the therapy dogs, shown by increased happiness and a lowering of their stress levels.

There are so many positive benefits for patients and nursing home residents when visiting with a therapy dog. However, the number of facilities with regular visits from owners and their canines is actually rather small. And it’s so easy and rewarding!

If you think your dog has the right temperament and basic training, it can test to become a Certified Canine Good Citizen. Imagine the joy you could bring to others, and how good you would feel, too, if you became a therapy dog owner.

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