Therapy Dog Benefits
provide emotional support
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ease stress
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lower blood pressure
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boost oxytocin levels
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reduce cholesterol
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provide emotional support 〰️ ease stress 〰️ lower blood pressure 〰️ boost oxytocin levels 〰️ reduce cholesterol 〰️
Over 30 years of longitudinal case studies determined that interaction with a friendly dog often measurably improves physical and mental health.
Therapy dogs play a crucial role in improving both physical and mental health, motivating patients in rehabilitation, and helping individuals of all ages in various settings like hospitals, and workplaces.
Therapy dogs reduce blood pressure as effectively as dietary restrictions
Therapy dogs ease depression, boosting oxytocin levels by as much as 300%.
Clinical trials reveal therapy dogs may reduce patients’ perceptions of pain.
Physical Benefits
Therapy dogs have proven physical health benefits backed by decades of scientific research. Some of the key advantages include:
Reduced muscle tension and pain
Easing symptoms of cardiovascular diseases
Lowering blood pressure and improving cholesterol levels
Positive physical effects on pet owners' friends and family members
Rehabilitation Benefits
In rehabilitation and post-surgical recovery, therapy dogs contribute by:
Motivating patients to engage in physical activity
Reducing feelings of depression and fatigue
Helping ICU patients with delirium and confusion
Tripling social behaviors in patients during therapy sessions
Psychological Benefits
The psychological advantages of therapy dogs are significant, as interacting with them boosts oxytocin levels, reducing anxiety and promoting feelings of comfort. These benefits extend to:
Reducing the perception of chronic pain
Aiding in the treatment of autism, PTSD, depression, and anxiety
Enhancing social behaviors like communication and eye contact
Therapy dogs are also known to alleviate work-related stress and improve employee morale.
History and Evolution of Therapy Animals
Animal-assisted therapy has ancient roots, with the Greeks possibly using horses to comfort the ill. Florence Nightingale promoted comfort animals for psychiatric patients in the 19th century, and Freud observed the calming effect of his dog on patients. In modern times, therapy dogs gained recognition in the 1940s, with the most famous early case being a Yorkshire Terrier named Smoky, who comforted soldiers during WWII and inspired widespread adoption of therapy dog programs.
Therapy Dogs Vs. Emotional Support Animals Vs. Service Dogs
Therapy Dogs
Therapy dogs work with handlers to provide comfort, emotional support, and psychological or physiological therapy to individuals. They are trained to interact with a variety of people in different settings like hospitals, nursing homes, and shelters. Their role is to improve the well-being of others, such as by easing stress, anxiety, or loneliness. Unlike service dogs, therapy dogs are not trained to perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities but are trained for general social interactions with the public.
Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)
Emotional Support Animals provide companionship and help alleviate symptoms of psychological or emotional disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. ESAs are not required to perform specific tasks and do not have the same public access rights as service dogs. They are primarily companion animals prescribed by a mental health professional.
Service Dogs
Service dogs are specially trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities, whether physical, sensory, psychiatric, or intellectual. These dogs have legal access to public spaces under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are often required to work closely with their handler. They have specific tasks (e.g., guiding, alerting, retrieving) and may have a "no petting" policy to avoid distractions.
Key Differences Between Service Dogs, Therapy Dogs, and ESAs
Service Dogs
Trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a disability (e.g., guide dogs for the blind, alert dogs for seizures).
Have public access rights under ADA.
Cannot be distracted by public interaction.
Therapy Dogs
Trained, certified, and insured to interact with various people in different settings (e.g., hospitals, workplaces).
Provide emotional support to many, not just their handler.
Do not have the same public access rights as service dogs.
Emotional Support Animals
Provide companionship and emotional comfort to individuals with psychological disorders.
Do not perform specific tasks and are not trained for public access.
Covered under certain housing laws but not ADA.
Conclusion
Service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support animals all serve different purposes:
Service dogs assist individuals with specific disabilities and have legal rights to access public spaces.
Therapy dogs provide emotional support to various people in institutional settings but need special invitations to public places, and are the only category certified by a governing body and insured to do so.
Emotional support animals help individuals with mental health challenges but do not have public access rights under the ADA.
Each type of animal plays a unique role in improving the lives of their handlers or others they interact with, but they differ significantly in their training, legal rights, and the scope of their assistance.
TL:DR
Service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support animals all serve different purposes:
Service dogs assist individuals with specific disabilities and have legal rights to access public spaces.
Therapy dogs are trained, certified, and insured to provide emotional support to various people in institutional settings but need special invitations to public places.
Emotional support animals help individuals with mental health challenges but do not have public access rights under the ADA.
Each type of animal plays a unique role in improving the lives of their handlers or others they interact with, but they differ significantly in their training, legal rights, and the scope of their assistance.