Therapy dogs not only help with emotional well-being, they also help children be more engaged in their social circles.
That鈥檚 the finding from a recent study out of the University of BC鈥檚 Okanagan campus.
鈥淒og lovers often have an assumption that canine-assisted interventions are going to be effective because other people are going to love dogs,鈥� the study鈥檚 lead researcher Nicole Harris said.
鈥淲hile we do frequently see children improve in therapy dog programs, we didn鈥檛 have data to support that they enjoyed the time as well.鈥�
Twenty-two children from the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs participated in the study. They took part in sessions to help build their social skills over six weeks. Over the course of the study, the children were accompanies by therapy dogs from UBCO鈥檚 Building Academic Retention through K9s (BARK) program as they completed lessons.
The children learned a new social skill each week, including introducing themselves or giving directions to someone else. They first practiced with their assigned therapy dog and then with the rest of their group mates. In the final phase of the study, the children, along with their therapy dog and volunteer handler, practiced their newly learned social skills with the university skills in the building.
鈥淭herapy dogs are often able to reach children and faciloitate their growth in surprising ways,鈥� BARK director Dr. John-Tyler Binfet said.
鈥淭he dogs helped create a non-threatening climate while the children were learning these new skills. We saw the children practice and hone their social skills alongside the dogs.鈥�
Harris鈥檚 team found that 鈥渃anine-awssisted social and emotional learning initiatives can provide unique advantages鈥�, adding that the children鈥檚 moods improved and they were more engaged with their lessons. The children also behaved better at the sessions with the therapy dogs than when they鈥檙e at their regular after-school care program.
Once the six week study was over, Harris interviewed eight children, aged five to 11.
鈥淓ach child indicated the social skill-training program was an enjoyable and positive experience and the dogs were a meaningful and essential part of the program.鈥�
The children added that the dogs helped with their emotional well-being and helped them learn to be more responsible.
鈥淒ogs have the ability to provide many stress-reducing and confidence-boosting benefits to children,鈥� Harris said.
鈥淚t was really heartwarming to see the impact the program had on the kids.鈥�
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