• Research suggests that using wellbeing and therapy dogs in response to traumatic events can help reduce symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety.
• Just being near a dog when stressed can reduce anxiety. In one survey, 92 per cent of students said they felt more relaxed during teaching and learning time when there was a dog in the classroom.
• Wellbeing dogs have been used in literacy programs, as children can be less self-conscious reading to dogs than to teachers or their peers.
• Dogs are good for older people, too. A Japanese study found older adults who care for (and walk) a dog are half as likely as their non-dog-owning peers to develop a cognitive or physical disability. And a study from the University of Michigan has found caring for…
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The Australian Women's Weekly (Digital) - 1 Issue, April 2022