Pets have always been a part of people’s lives. Each person may have a reason for owning a pet, but most owners want a comforting companion that can help relieve their stress. Some people even consider pets as family. They can also serve as an alternative for children, especially for those who don’t want or have one yet.

According to the 2021-2022 National Pet Owners Survey, around 70% of U.S. households have pets. And the majority of those pets are cats and dogs. But how can pets reduce stress? This article lists five unique ways pets can help improve their owners’ overall mental health and happiness.

1. Pets give you opportunities to exercise

Pets need to be taken care of every day, especially dogs. Dog owners need to feed their pets on a regular schedule and take them on walks, hikes, and runs. These responsibilities give pet owners opportunities to engage more in physical activities.

Previous research suggests that dog owners are more likely to be physically active and meet the recommended daily exercise requirements. Exercise helps bump up your endorphins, hormones that reduce stress and improve your mood.

2. Pets make us feel needed

Most pets are affectionate, friendly, and have relatable personalities that endear them to their owners. Caring for these lovable creatures can make owners feel more needed and wanted. When you have a pet to care for, it can give you a sense of purpose and meaning — even when your pet doesn’t interact with you a lot.

Interestingly, a 2016 study shows that even pet insects, such as crickets in a cage, can have a significant impact on elevating the mood and reducing the depression of the participants. The participants were a group of community-dwelling elderly individuals. And the result suggests that caring for a living creature benefits a person’s overall mental well-being.

3. Pets provide companionship

Pets can be incredibly loyal and reliable creatures, making them excellent companions. They can form a bond with you in ways that people can’t. Pets can offer company and unconditional love that can make you feel happy and less stressed.

They’re also excellent snugglers and great listeners. You can tell them your problems or feelings and they won’t judge you. It can be easy to lower your stress when you have a friend you can count on at all times — and pets can be that friend.

4. Pets help improve your relationships

When you have a good relationship with your animal friends, having better relations with humans won’t be so hard, especially in a pet-loving community. Joining animal clubs and attending pet shows allow you to have better social interactions.

Having something you like in common (pets) can make talking and interacting with fellow pet owners more comfortable and fun. Having more friends can help lessen your feeling of loneliness and depression.

5. Pets help you relax

Interacting with pets helps lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety, and decrease depression, making you feel calmer and relaxed. Aside from their cute and loving appearance, the playful nature of pets, particularly cats and dogs, can help lift your spirits and boost your mood. Most pet owners consider their pets as part of the family. And like family, they have a way of making you feel at ease and happy simply by being there with you.

Conclusion

Coming home and seeing your pets excited to greet you brings great joy to every pet owner. A pet can be your family, best friend, companion, and so much more. Caring for pets can be challenging and physically demanding, but they can also give your life purpose and meaning. You can gain a lot of benefits from having pets. That’s why you should treat them well and love them as much as they love you.

Read related articles here: 

• 7 Qualities That Would Make Your Pet a Good Emotional Support Animal
• The Best Grooming Practices to Prepare Your Therapy Pet for Their Next Visit
• 7 Top Tips for Responsible Pet and Assistance Animal Ownership

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet today.

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals. Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the image below. 

Modern societies view childhood as the most vulnerable period of life, with children needing protection from different hardships. Yet, young people are experiencing traumatic life events more than we realize. Research shows that in the US, 26% of children will witness or encounter a traumatic event before they turn four.

Traumatic events refer to anything that threatens the safety or physical integrity of self or others. Examples are accidents, violent crimes, bullying, domestic violence, and other natural and human-made disasters.

In the wake of such events, children would need help with coping, especially from their parents. Here are five ways to help children recover after trauma so they can move on with their lives.

1. Get a psychiatric service dog

A psychiatric service dog can be a significant addition to the treatment plan of traumatized children because they are child-friendly, loyal, fun-loving, and affectionate. But more than that, they are specifically trained to help children recover from trauma through eliciting positive emotions and warmth, supporting social connections, and reminding them that danger is no longer present.

Some of the best psychiatric service dog breeds include Poodles, Labrador Retrievers, Havanese, Miniature Schnauzers, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

2. Rebuild trust and safety

Perhaps the most significant aspect of childhood that a traumatic event can take away is the sense of safety and security. Trauma can alter a child’s perspective, making the world suddenly seem unsafe and terrible. You need to help your child rebuild their trust in both the environment and other people.

Hugging and reassuring your child can help them feel safe again. Being trustworthy by keeping your promises can help rebuild your child’s trust. Lastly, avoiding physical punishment can help prevent triggering your child’s traumatic experience.

3. Be patient with your child

When your child displays erratic behaviors and outbursts, don’t take them personally. Find ways to respond to tantrums without making things worse. Your reactions may be a trigger to your child, who is already feeling vulnerable. Stay calm, lower your voice, and acknowledge your child’s feelings. Be patient and understand that your child’s behaviors might just be their way of dealing with the trauma.

4. Engage your child

Your child will recover from trauma at their own pace and time. But you can play a major role in the healing process by simply being emotionally and physically available and spending time together as a family. Do your best to provide your kids with ongoing opportunities to talk about what they’re feeling and to ask questions.

However, don’t pressure your child into talking. Instead, just show them your willingness to listen and always be honest. The more your child opens up to you, the more they can ease their burden and forget the unpleasant memories and experiences.

5. Let the child play

Playing enables physical activity, which can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and allow your kids to sleep better at night. Let your child be a child again and encourage them to play. Help them overcome their traumatic experience by replacing them with new and happy childhood memories.

Conclusion

As a parent or caregiver of a traumatized child, provide them with the tools they need to survive, help them manage their fears, and guide them as they grow. You should also understand that your child’s past experiences affect how they see and respond to their world.

But children can be remarkably resilient, especially when they have people who protect and support them. With the five tips in this article, you can take the first step in building a safer, healthier world for your child.

Service dogs play a vital role in the community, especially in improving the lives of individuals with disabilities. And while modern technology has come a long way in terms of treatment, sometimes people with disabilities can benefit more from a service dog’s love and loyalty — something that no modern technology can provide.

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a disability refers to a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of an individual. The ADA also identified several lists of disabilities that would qualify for a service dog. Here are a few examples.

1. Paralysis

Paralysis is the loss of muscle function or the inability to make voluntary muscle movements. It’s usually a problem with the nervous system and its causes vary between individuals. For some people, an inborn defect (spina bifida) causes their paralysis. Others become paralyzed due to traumatic injuries (spinal cord injuries) or medical conditions that damage muscle and nerve function (stroke).

2. Blindness

Blindness could mean partial or complete loss of sight. A partially blind individual has limited vision, meaning that even with glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery, they still can’t see properly. On the other hand, a completely blind individual is someone unable to see at all. Some of the common causes include:

• Ocular complications of diabetes
• Macular degeneration
• Glaucoma
• Traumatic injuries

3. Asthma

Asthma is a chronic or long-term medical condition that affects your lungs and causes problems with your breathing. It’s one of the most common chronic diseases in children, typically triggered by airborne allergens, such as pollens, dust mites, pet dander, or mold spores.

Asthmatic individuals may not have sensory or mobility limitations, but asthma attacks can lead to serious medical emergencies that may require immediate attention.

4. Epilepsy

Epilepsy, also known as a seizure disorder, is another medical condition identified as a disability by the ADA. It’s a brain disorder that causes recurring and unprovoked seizures, which happen as a result of sudden abnormal electrical brain activity. While epilepsy typically has no identifiable cause, some cases may be traced to various factors, including genetic influence, tumors, or head injury.

5. Depression

Depression is a type of mental disability that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act. It’s a mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest, altering an individual’s quality of life. There are various reasons why a person goes into depression, and it depends entirely on their ability to handle life’s many adversities.

Related article: Service Dogs for Anxiety: What You Need to Know

6. Autism

Autism, also called autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a complicated developmental condition involving problems with social communication, repetitive behaviors, and understanding people’s emotions. Dealing with autistic people can be very challenging. And while it’s still possible for a person with autism to live independently as an adult, not many can achieve the same level of independence.

Conclusion

What these disabilities have in common is that they all can make it difficult for you to do certain activities and maintain a quality of life. These are only a few of the many disabilities identified by the ADA.

Furthermore, the ADA states that you may likely qualify for a service dog if you have any physical, emotional, or mental disabilities. But more than that, you should be able to provide documentation from a medical professional indicating that your disability can, in some way, be improved or supported by a service dog.

Learn more about service dogs here!

• The 7 Best Service Dog Breeds for People With Disabilities
• What Are The Different Types Of Service Dogs? (And What They Do)
• 7 Commands to Teach a Service Dog

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet today.

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the image below.

For some individuals suffering from mental health issues, the presence of an emotional support animal (ESA) is critical to their ability to function normally on a daily basis. These animals provide emotional support and coping mechanisms that help people deal with challenges that might affect their quality of life.

Mental health professionals often prescribe dogs as emotional support animals, but they’re not the only animal species that can provide emotional support or therapy to humans. Many people have managed to boost their self-esteem and reduce their anxiety interacting with therapy animals of various species. Aside from dogs, here are some of the best emotional support animals you can have if you’re considering one.

1. Cats

Cats are not as active and may seem lazy animals compared to dogs, yet their calm and affectionate nature makes them great emotional support companions. They can quickly form a loving bond with their owners and their soothing presence offers a variety of benefits for their owner’s mental health, including reducing stress and blood pressure, according to research.

Some of the best cat breeds that are perfect for emotional support include the American Bobtail, Bengal, Russian Blue, Siamese, and Sphynx.

Read more: 6 Best Cat Breeds That Provide Emotional Support

2. Rabbits

Domestic rabbits make excellent ESAs because they’re cute, cuddly, playful, and quick to bond with people. They have some of the softest furs and twitchy noses that many find adorable. Rabbits are also very loving and caring creatures and have a great awareness that makes them responsive to their owner’s emotions.

3. Guinea Pigs

These cuddly rodents have many excellent qualities, including their small size, gentle behavior, and highly interactive nature, making them good ESAs for anxiety and depression. When guinea pigs are overly excited, they will do a jumping and twisting maneuver called “popcorning,” which can be amusing to watch. If you decide to have guinea pigs for emotional support, make sure you have at least two of them at once to keep each other company.

4. Parrots

Parrots are winged creatures with bright and extravagant colors that offer great benefits to people with all kinds of mental health issues. Their tendency for empathy and their ability to mimic human speech makes them fun pets to interact with. They’re also capable of sensing tension and anger in humans, which is helpful for people with anxiety and learning disabilities.

5. Miniature Horses

Unlike other domestic animals, miniature horses are not pets you keep at home. They’re often raised at therapy farms where individuals with learning disabilities, critical illness, or trauma can visit them for emotional support and comfort. Their calm demeanor and love for people mean that you can hug and pet them comfortably, making them a viable treatment option for anxiety and depression.

Conclusion

There are several other animals you don’t usually keep as pets that can provide emotional support, such as snakes, pigs, chickens, llamas, and alpacas. While these animals are not as friendly and lovable compared to dogs, they’re still capable of making you feel better, as long as they’re properly trained.

The good thing about having a variety of animals capable of being ESAs is that it gives you more options in choosing the animal that suits your needs and personality.

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet today.

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals. Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the image below. 

As early as 1989, service dogs have been providing victims of crimes with a greater sense of security during highly stressful court cases. These courthouse facility dogs, as they’re commonly called, receive special training to work in organizations such as the judicial system to accompany child witnesses and other vulnerable people on the witness stand.

For the last three decades, the practice of using service dogs in courtrooms in the United States has been growing to help calm victims and witnesses throughout the legal process. The partnership of courthouse facility dogs and the judicial system has successfully helped support crime victims in actual court settings, inspiring the conception of the Courthouse Dogs Foundation and the development of other related programs in 26 states.

Important Characteristics of Service Dogs

Not all dogs that make good pets are qualified to be service dogs. Dogs that are easily distracted, don’t behave well in public or are aggressive don’t make good candidates. In addition to proper training, here are a few characteristics that will help in determining what makes a good service dog:

• Calm temperament
• Energetic
• Doesn’t react negatively when petted by strangers
• Enjoys being with people
• Can focus on a task and ignore distractions
• Can be trained easily

How Do Service Dogs Help Crime Victims in Courtrooms?

In most criminal case proceedings, child abuse victims or rape victims are often intimidated and afraid to testify about their experiences in a courtroom. A service dog sitting close to a victim or witness offers a supportive presence that helps them compose themselves and manage the inevitable stress of their difficult circumstances.

Supporters say that a service dog’s presence during difficult court cases can assist in boosting courtroom morale and influencing an individual’s courage or willingness to open up on the stand and tell the jury what happened.

Examples of Scenarios Where a Service Dog Has Helped in a Courtroom

The Courthouse Dogs Foundation shares a story about a young victim of sexual abuse in Texas that was brought to a child advocacy center to tell a stranger about what happened to her. By her side was a courthouse facility dog named Petra. When the forensic interviewer left the room for a moment to speak with the detectives, the child hugged Petra and said, “I love you, Petra. You really are a good dog. I’ve told you more than I’ve ever told anybody. I hope when you die, you go to heaven.”

Another example is when a service dog, Pella, of the Sungate Kids, a child advocacy center in Colorado, managed to help a teenage girl who refused to speak about the family member who had sexually abused her. Amber Urban, a criminal investigator, said that introducing Pella to the girl was instrumental for her opening up and providing evidence that was used to secure a conviction.

Conclusion

Service dogs provide unique benefits to crime victims during difficult court cases. While some courts do not allow the use of service dogs during trials, they can still help in increasing the sense of security of vulnerable individuals during depositions. Furthermore, some defense attorneys would argue that courthouse facility dogs should not be allowed because they can influence a jury’s decision by making witnesses look more sympathetic.

Nevertheless, it has been proven time and time again that the presence of service dogs are crucial in the investigation and trial of criminal cases, especially when children and sexually abused individuals are involved.

Learn more about service dogs by reading these articles:

• How Can Service Dogs Help Dementia Patients?
• Top Things You Should Know About Service Dogs
• Service Dogs for Anxiety: What You Need to Know

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet today.

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the image below.

Animals have been helping humans for a very long time now. Some have become the pets to give us emotional support, while others assist us with our day-to-day work. Farm animals, in particular, have been a source of income for many small farmers in developing countries.

Today, however, these animals are more than just livestock or helpers in agriculture. They now play a significant role in therapies, assisting people with mental health issues and improving their quality of life.

What is farm animal therapy? How does it work?

Farm animals are considered therapeutic help to those with emotional and mental health problems. These animals are classified under Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT), where they assist individuals in their treatment. Patients create a bond with farm animals, and doctors communicate through them for individuals with emotional struggles to share their feelings.

A research paper on Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health discusses psychiatric patients’ involvement with farm animals. The result is that there is a significant increase in coping ability and self-awareness in psychiatric patients.

Examples of common therapeutic farm animals

Not all animals can be therapeutic but there are some you want to consider if you need one.

Horses

A horse is one of the farm animals used for therapy. It is common for those children diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) uses horses as part of its treatment. They describe that having a farm animal like a horse helps children calm down and relax. Moreover, horses help boost focus since children are encouraged to feed and brush them.

Related: Why Do Miniature Horses Make Great Service Animals? 5 Reasons Why

Goats

Aside from horses, goats are also good therapy farm animals. They provide a sense of calmness to the person holding them. Snuggling with goats can help release oxytocin — commonly known as the love hormone. Taking care of goats increases a person’s carefulness.

Cows

A cow is another animal that can comfort you. Someone with anxiety and depression can cuddle cows and help in cow milking. People can snuggle up with cows after they eat (when they start to lie down quietly). Fun fact: cows have a slower heart rate than humans, and when a person with anxieties snuggles up with a cow, their heart rate slows down.

How can farm animal therapy benefit people?

Farm animals benefit people’s overall emotional well-being. This kind of therapy allows persons with mental health issues to unload their stress and relax for a while. There are a lot of fun activities used in therapeutic sessions, such as feeding and grooming the horses, riding a horse, snuggling goats, and cuddling cows.

Conclusion

Aside from dogs and cats, farm animals can also be great companions that provide emotional support for struggling individuals. People living in the city can appreciate these kinds of animals even more because they don’t see them very often. If you need some mood boosters, you can go to the farm and spend a wonderful time with horses, goats, or cows. These animals can significantly help in improving your mental well-being.

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet. 

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the image below.

It’s natural to feel sad, anxious, and afraid as a result of a traumatic experience. People have various reactions to stressful situations, yet many recover from initial symptoms over time. However, those who continue to experience problems may be dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

PTSD is a disorder that develops in some people following any event that makes them fear their safety. And even when they’re no longer in danger, people with PTSD may still feel frightened or stressed.

In the United States, nearly 70% of adults experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime; and among them, 20% will develop PTSD. It’s an alarming condition that may interfere with your day-to-day functioning. To help you move on with your life, here are five ways to cope with PTSD.

1. Get a specifically trained PTSD service dog

Treatment plans may include getting a service dog for individuals with PTSD. These dogs undergo training to assist someone with PTSD in their daily living. Walking with their handlers in public places, ensuring that no strangers approach them, and reminding them to take their medications are few tasks these dogs perform. They help individuals gain confidence, calm down, and feel a sense of security. Moreover, service dogs can help their PTSD handler to maintain positive relationships with their family and friends.

Related: What Are the Ways Service Animals Help People with PTSD?

2. Engage in physical activity

People with PTSD tend to recall past experiences from time to time, resulting in anxiety, heart palpitation, depression, and lack of motivation. For this reason, they should engage in physical exercise to release endorphins and eliminate toxins (including stress) outside the body.

Avoid staying in bed the whole day. Rise and move your body by doing exercises like yoga, cycling, or mountain trekking. Go on a short trip like camping and do something that will help you relax and forget stressful events in your life.

3. Have a healthy lifestyle

Reliving traumatic events over and over again in your mind is not healthy. All the stressful flashbacks can result in a lack of sleep and loss of appetite. That said, having a healthy lifestyle is essential in coping with PTSD. Make sure to get 7-9 hours of sleep each day to calm your thoughts and eat nutritious foods to give your body more energy. A proper diet and adequate sleep can help ease your mind and reduce stress.

4. Join organizational activities

PTSD individuals feel that they are helpless with their condition. Their traumatic experiences cause them to be vulnerable. To boost their confidence and help them realize that they too can be of help to others, encourage them to join organizational activities. Many people organize such events to help those with PTSD. Give your free time to join charitable events, visit an orphanage, and do community work to keep yourself busy.

5. Have a support system

Someone with PTSD tends to shy away from people. They avoid any social gathering and prefer staying at home. However, knowing that someone is there to support you can significantly boost your morale. Try reaching out to trusted friends and family members and let them know what you’re going through. Having a support system is vital for your recovery.

Conclusion

Experiencing a traumatic event may cause severe emotional and mental stress, making you unable to stop thinking about what’s happened. It can also cause a wide range of emotions from fear and anger to anxiety and depression to guilt — all of which are normal reactions to trauma.

However, if you don’t know how to cope the right way, these common stress reactions can worsen and lead to PTSD.

Seeking timely professional help, getting a PTSD service dog, reaching out to friends and family for support, and living a healthier and more active lifestyle will help you manage your stress, reduce painful memories, and thrive in life.

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet. 

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the image below.

Therapy dogs help improve a person’s mental health. These dogs provide affection, comfort, and support to people in various institutions such as hospitals, nursing homes, and even schools, among others. While therapy dogs are not considered service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), they are often used for therapy to provide emotional support to people.

In educational settings, many students can feel anxious, worried, and stressed with school matters, making them emotionally fragile. To help them cope, schools are now increasingly utilizing the services of therapy dogs. They’ve been helping students from primary school to university settings cope with stress and anxiety, and even facilitate learning.

In this article, you’ll learn how therapy dogs can promote the well-being of students. Read on.

1. Help Kids Reduce Stress

Some children have relationship attachment issues, which are called insecure-avoidant attachments. It’s when a student (mostly males) experiences extreme stress when interacting socially with others. Trier Social Stress Test for Children (TSST-C) checks the social stress of a student. The result of the study shows that interacting with a friendly dog can significantly reduce stress. With every physical contact, such as stroking the dog, students feel better and more relaxed.

The presence of a therapy dog can help students perform well in class by reducing stress from their social environment.

2. Encourage Students to Read

Another role of a therapy dog is to help students with Emotional Behavioral Disabilities (EBD) to read better. A 2013 study suggests that dog reading programs help address the struggles of students with EBD during reading activities in school. It’s a program where students are tasked to read out loud to the therapy dog and teachers evaluate their reading skills and attitudes toward reading.

Therapy dogs have a positive impact on students because not only can they have more fun, but they also show significant improvements in reading.

3. Increase Socio-Emotional Skills in the Classroom

Therapy dogs can help improve the socio-emotional aspect of students. Generally, dogs are friendly and easy companions. Through constant interaction with a dog inside the room, they build confidence and improve their social communication. Aside from that, therapy dogs help reduce signs of aggressiveness towards co-students.

What is better about having therapy dogs in school is that trust among students is developed and enriched. They also become good listeners to the teachers since they observe it from therapy dogs.

4. Develop Social Communication Skills

Some children have Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). It’s a disorder that affects the communication and social skills of a student. Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) for children helps with this kind of disorder. Research on PDD uses a therapy dog along with a non-living dog (toy) to see the child’s interaction. Findings conclude that the social communication skills of children are better with a therapy dog.

5. Decreases Anxiety

Research on Animal-Assisted Literacy (AAL) assists those with a learning disability.  It means an oral reading is happening in front of a therapy dog. Such practice enables a student to decrease anxiety, and develop reading interest. Students with learning disabilities have anxiety when it comes to literacy lessons, affecting their comprehension.

For this reason, therapy dogs can be helpful in the school setting. Oral reading with a dog increases a student’s reading efficiency better than that of a human.

Conclusion

Therapy dogs should be well-trained, focused, friendly, calm, and sociable. These dogs play an important role in reducing depression and anxiety among students. Therapy dogs also help them develop better social skills to thrive in school. Some of the breeds that make great therapy dogs include the Labrador, Golden Retriever, Poodle, and French Bulldog.

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet today.

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals. Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the image below. 

Dementia is a general term that describes the loss of memory, thinking ability, attention, and other mental abilities that interfere with a person’s daily life and activities. You may notice dementia patients wandering and getting lost on their way home, acting impulsively, losing balance, or having problems with movement, which are only some of the many signs and symptoms that affect their quality of life.

Although dementia is common in older people, it’s not part of normal aging. People with dementia need the help and support of others to accomplish their daily tasks. This is where dementia dogs can come in handy. They can serve as an alternative to caregivers, allowing patients to have some autonomy and make the most out of life.

Keep reading to know more about dementia dogs and what they can do for patients suffering from dementia.

What are Certain Characteristics of Dementia Dogs?

Dementia dogs undergo protective mentality training that activates their common sense and initiative skills. Since most dementia patients have impaired mental capabilities, these dogs are taught multiple small tasks necessary to overcome their handler’s physical limitations.

To be an effective service animal, these dementia dogs should possess the following characteristics: a calm disposition, good attention to tasks, excellent concentration, friendly (can go along both with humans and other animals), and the ability to ignore distractions. In contrast, dogs who respond violently to accidental pain are not effective service dogs.

The best dog breeds that are highly capable of being used as dementia dogs include Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Collies, and German Shepherds. These dogs are usually calm, dependable, and easy to train.

What Do Dementia Dogs Do?

Dementia dogs are taught to do specific tasks such as getting medicines, waking their handlers, opening a door for the handlers, and more. They assist a person with dementia to live a quality life despite the disease.

Dementia dogs also undergo scent training. Familiarity with the handler’s scents is very crucial in their future companionship. It usually takes about 6 months of training (or more) for the dog and its handler to get used to each other’s company.

Meanwhile, the mere presence of an animal can help reduce anxiety, depression, and irritability. Dementia dogs are often friendly, making them good companions and helpful advocates for dementia patients to socialize.

Furthermore, these service dogs follow commands and respond to visual and auditory cues. For example, the ringing of an alarm may signal the dog to get their handler’s medication and assist them in taking it.

Related:7 Commands to Teach a Service Dog

Conclusion

Dementia dogs are trustworthy and dependable companions that help make the lives of their handlers easier and more comfortable. However, it’s important to note that service dogs alone cannot fully protect a patient with dementia and vice versa. While service dogs can help and guide their handlers in doing day-to-day activities, they cannot make decisions for them.

Similarly, someone with Alzheimer’s (the most common type of dementia) may not be capable of taking care of a dog on their own. For this reason, including a caretaker that ensures the dog’s safety and well-being is a more holistic approach.

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet today.

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals. Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the image below.