Dogs have a remarkable ability to improve your mental and physical well-being. This special bond between humans and canines has led to a concept called therapy dog programs that are designed to provide emotional support and comfort in various therapeutic settings. In this article, let’s explore the profound impact of therapy dogs on your mental and physical health, and how they enhance the overall quality of life.
Understanding Therapy Dogs
Therapy dogs offer support for a person’s mental health by giving them love, companionship, and comfort. They have a soft and polite demeanour that has a therapeutic effect on people suffering from health problems. Therapy dogs are provided to people to improve their overall quality of life and offer emotional support. They also visit retirement or nursing homes, old age homes, schools, and hospitals. Therapy dogs are specially trained to be extra gentle and friendly to strangers so that they don’t feel threatened. These dogs love to be hugged and petted and are very friendly towards children. Therapy dogs are trained to perform special tasks for people with disabilities or serious health concerns.
Which dogs are therapy dogs?
The dog breeds which are friendly can be trained as a therapy dog. Larger breeds like golden retrievers, St. Bernards, and Labradors are generally used as therapy dogs. Smaller breeds like mini poodles and Pomeranians can be trained as therapy dogs for people who are not comfortable with large dogs. The dogs are thoroughly tested before sending them to people for therapy as not everybody is able to handle if they become unruly or have sudden changes in their behaviour.
The Positive Effects of canine companionship:
- Reducing Stress and Anxiety:
The companionship of a therapy dog reduces stress, and anxiety to a great level. By simply petting the dog you will feel a surge of positivity and calmness. These dogs help to make you feel loved, happy and cared for. - Lifting Mood:
Therapy dogs help to enhance positive feelings with their unconditional love and affection. These dogs are trained to accompany you at all times and can easily gauge your temperament and offer their unconditional love and attention. - Lowering Blood Pressure:
The loving companionship of a therapy dog aids in controlling high blood pressure levels in humans. Their gentle presence has a positive effect on your overall health, especially your heart health. Connecting with these dogs on an emotional level shows remarkable improvement in the health of their owners. Therapy dogs also help control the heart rate, which reduces the risk of cardiovascular issues.
Therapy Dog Team:
Therapy dogs and their trainers are rigorously trained and provided certification to make sure they can effectively offer support and safety to the person concerned. Dogs are trained to be obedient and behave politely and gently so that they can safely interact with people. Therapy dogs are also made accustomed to various settings and places to ensure they adjust well and remain calm and adaptable.
Therapy dogs have a strong bond with their trainers and have a positive impact on the trainer’s life as well. Their bond is very powerful as they have an unwavering trust in each other. The emotional bonding helps them to understand each other and also enables the dog to take instructions from the trainer properly. The trainers feel a sense of purpose and fulfilment while training the dogs and serving society.
To sum it all up, Therapy dogs strongly and profoundly influence your mental and physical health. Their presence and unconditional love can reduce stress, control depression, and provide support during tough times. From healthcare facilities to schools, senior care homes, disaster response teams, and courtrooms, therapy dogs are making a meaningful difference in diverse settings.
