Therapy Dog
Meet Milo, my trained therapy dog.
What is a therapy dog?
A therapy dog is a dog specifically trained to provide comfort, affection, and support to people in various settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. Unlike service dogs, which are trained to perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities, therapy dogs are focused on improving general emotional well-being and companionship. They are typically gentle, well-behaved, and comfortable interacting with diverse groups of people
A therapy dog can support pupils with dyslexia during or after a tuition session by:
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Reducing Stress and Anxiety: Tuition sessions, especially for pupils with dyslexia, can be mentally demanding and sometimes stressful. Dyslexia can lead to feelings of frustration, self-consciousness, and anxiety around reading and learning. Interacting with a calm and friendly therapy dog after a session can help lower cortisol levels (stress hormones) and increase the production of feel-good chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety.
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Creating a Calming and Safe Environment: The non-judgmental presence of a therapy dog can create a more relaxed and secure atmosphere. Pupils might feel more at ease and less pressured to perform, allowing them to decompress after an intense learning session.
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Boosting Motivation and Mood: Dyslexia can sometimes impact a child's motivation and enjoyment of learning. A therapy dog can bring an element of fun and novelty, making the overall experience more positive. This can help to improve their mood and make them more receptive to future learning.
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Improving Self-Esteem and Confidence: For a child who struggles with reading, a therapy dog offers a non-critical listener.1 Reading aloud to a dog can help build confidence without the fear of judgment or correction. This can be particularly beneficial for practicing fluency in a low-stakes environment.
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Enhancing Social-Emotional Skills: Interacting with a therapy dog can help pupils develop empathy, compassion, and appropriate social behaviours. It can also be a gentle way to encourage communication, even for those who might be hesitant to express themselves verbally.
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Providing a "Reset": After a focused tuition session, a brief interaction with a therapy dog can act as a mental break and a "reset." This can help pupils transition from a highly cognitive activity to a more relaxed state, allowing their brains to process and consolidate what they've learned more effectively.
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Increasing Engagement: The novelty and positive experience of a therapy dog can make pupils more engaged and willing to participate in activities, even those they might typically find challenging.​
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In essence, therapy dogs provide a unique form of emotional support that can complement academic interventions for pupils with dyslexia by addressing the emotional and psychological challenges that often accompany the learning difficulty.
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What are the benefits of a therapy dog?
