Dog therapists - the trustworthy and powerful companion

Cavoodles, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, are the most common dog breeds in Australia. According to a national survey conducted by Animals Medicines Australia, more than half of the Australian households own pets (61%), dogs being the most popular (40%). Dogs have long been a great companion in every household, my neighbour has one, my colleague has two, my friend has three. I am a massive fan of dogs, not only are they compassionate but they are also spiritual, making them a fantastic companion. They crawl next to you when you are feeling blue, they jump around wigging their tails as you are strolling in the park.

As mentioned in our recent newsletter (don't forget to subscribe to us!), I came across this article about introducing therapy dogs to autistic children aged 7-12 in France, the feedbacks and results are reassuring. The kids have learned to understand other's feelings better, be patient, and better manage their emotions. That is called animal-assisted intervention (AAI)/ therapy (AAT), it started as early as 1961 and have gained its reputation since the late 90s. It includes anything from birds to horses and of course, dogs.

Doggos in University

If you are a university student, you must have heard of 'Dog therapy' especially towards the exam periods or upon settling in the new environment. We university students meet a group of adorable doggos, the idea is to relieve our stress and anxiety. Direct interaction with house-trained dogs (Dogs who are disciplined by training such as urinating and defecating outside households) improves mood and reduces anxiety And guess what? watching dog videos can do the work too. So after all, seems like watching hours of dogs is not a bad idea at all. (Thelwell, 2019)

Doggos for the Elderly

When it comes to elderly households, it is not common to spot a canine member or two. And if you have guessed by now, yes, having a doggy is a great idea for the older generations. Why? As we age, our cognitive ability deteriorates, and plenty of studies have shown that dogs can help ameliorate cognitive disorders such as agitation (Baun & McCabe, 2003). Among people with dementia who have a lack of cognitive functioning e.g remembering and thinking, the presence of a pet dog encourages more social behaviors such as smiling more often and speaking (Kongable, Buckwalter & Stolley,1989).

Doggos for ASD and ADHD

Dogs can be wonderful companions for our tiny tots, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder or ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). For the former, the effect of increased social interactions during intervention with animals is highlighted (O'Haire, 2017) and these effects are more powerful than using toys (O'Haire et al., 2013). AAT teaches the kids about empathy, increase their social interactions, and better manage their emotions. Though, it is noted that characteristics of autism cannot be changed.

Children with ADHD suffer from self behavioural regulation and social difficulties due to poor emotional management (poor frustration to tolerance, very short-tempered, impatient). The study looks into a group of non medicated children with ADHD aged 7-9 under a dog assisted therapy. Improvement in symptoms is shown, this includes a reduction in problematic behaviours e.g. bullying, inattention, and improvement in social interactions. (Schuck et al., 2015)

When it comes to types of dogs, the sky is the limit. Here is a link to a podcast from Chatabout Children to get you all started plus provide you more insights about the topic. It discusses everything from finding the most suited type of dog for your family to the bits and pieces to consider to accommodate your canine member.

Last but not least, always think twice if not triple upon getting a pet. Be a responsible owner.

Reference

Baun, M. M., & McCabe, B. W. (2003). Companion animals and persons with dementia of the Alzheimer's type: therapeutic possibilities. American Behavioral Scientist, 47(1), 42-51.

Kongable, L. G., Buckwalter, K. C., & Stolley, J. M. (1989). The effects of pet therapy on the social behavior of institutionalized Alzheimer's clients. Archives of psychiatric nursing, 3(4), 191–198.

O'Haire, M. E., McKenzie, S. J., Beck, A. M., & Slaughter, V. (2013). Social behaviors increase in children with autism in the presence of animals compared to toys. PloS one, 8(2), e57010. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0057010

O'Haire M. (2017). Research on animal-assisted intervention and autism spectrum disorder, 2012-2015. Applied developmental science, 21(3), 200–216. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2016.1243988

Schuck, S. E., Emmerson, N. A., Fine, A. H., & Lakes, K. D. (2015). Canine-assisted therapy for children with ADHD: preliminary findings from the positive assertive cooperative kids study. Journal of attention disorders, 19(2), 125–137. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054713502080

Thelwell E. (2019). Paws for Thought: A Controlled Study Investigating the Benefits of Interacting with a House-Trained Dog on University Students Mood and Anxiety. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 9(10), 846. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9100846

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I hope this blog has given you an idea of the wonderful effects of doggies. If you have decided to get a dog, do not forget to do more own research beforehand whether it be on youtube or simply on Google. It is not to say dogs are superior pets, as mentioned, animal-assisted intervention is great and that includes all kinds of pets, even fish!

Have a great day and don't forget to smile!

Joyce Lau