Animal-Assisted Therapy

Kelli Gentile

October 27, 2016

Mrs. Olivera, Period 6

Humanities 1
Animal-Assisted Therapy

Being human entails having low points in life as well as high points. Specifically in those
low points, one may need to sort out issues and emotions by utilizing some form of therapy. In
the late 1700s, talk therapy was established, but since then many new forms of therapy have
arisen. In the last decade, Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) has become one of the more favored
forms of help. This form of therapy includes the use of animals, often dogs, to better the
functioning of someone socially, emotionally, and cognitively. Certified AAT dogs possess the
power to influence a person's health in a positive way.
In order for a dog/handler team to partake in the needed evaluations they must first fulfill
a set of guidelines put forth by Therapy Dogs International (TDI). For one, Therapy Dogs
International will not test dogs under 1 year of age and Handlers under 18 years of age must
have a parent/legal guardian present to engage in the evaluation (Testing Requirements).
Because of the unreliability of a puppys behavior, Therapy Dogs International maintains a strict
age restriction for the dogs. Also, Potential applicants are NOT required to take any Therapy
Dog classes but TDI does suggest basic/ intermediate obedience classes and prep classes, for
the dog, to prepare him for exposure to different settings such as nursing homes, hospitals, and
schools (Testing Requirements). Sometimes handlers own two canines and If a handler wants
to visit with more than one dog at a time, all dogs visiting together must be tested at the same
time because the dogs need to learn to act as one team, working together (Testing
Requirements). After passing all prerequisites the dog/handler team is ready for its evaluation.

Humanities 2
As determined by Therapy Dogs International, phase one of the evaluation process
includes testing in a group situation. Each phase contains a number of different evaluations
called stages. Stages one through three simulates a hospital reception desk and tests whether the
dog can be left with someone while the handler has to be briefly absent to check in (Therapy
Dogs International). The handler gives the command for the canine to stay or sit and hands the
leash over to a helper. Next the dog and handler team walk down a hall where people will try
visiting with the dog...must demonstrate that the dog can withstand the approach and touching by
several people (Therapy Dogs International). This test helps show that the dog can handle an
interception and be friendly with those trying to visit with him. In stages four through six, the
whole group of handler/canine teams participate in a group sit/stay/ down activity. In this stage,
The handlers will give the sit command to the dogs. The evaluator will tell the handlers to leave
their dogs. The handlers will step out to the end of their 6 ft. leash, turn around and face the
dog(s) and wait for the evaluators command to return to their dog(s) (Therapy Dogs
International). Repetition of the command and action procedure occurs, but instead the handler
downs the dog. To down the dog means to command him to lie down (Teaching Down
Command).This test insures the capability of staying under control without the handler directly
by the dog's side. Stage seven simulates a visit between a patient and dog/handler team.
Phase two commences with stage eight and tests the canines reactions to unusual
simulations such as passing a person on crutches, someone running by calling Excuse me,
excuse me waving their hands (Therapy Dogs International). The dog may be startled but
must recover immediately (Therapy Dogs International). Stage nine and ten, known as
Leave it part 1 and 2 includes that the dog handler/team meets a person in a

Humanities 3
wheelchair(and) after briefly interacting with the dog, they will offer the dog a treat. The
handler must instruct the dog to leave it (Therapy Dogs International). The handler should
explain to the patient why the dog cannot eat a treat while visiting. For phase two, the dog
handler team comes across food on the floor and the dog must leave it and keep walking. The
significance of this exercise rests in the idea that a treat from a stranger, or on the ground, could
contain some traces of medicines, or other dangerous elements, potentially lethal to the animal.
In the next stage, stage eleven, A volunteer with a demo dog will walk past the dog
handler/team and the dog must show friendliness with the other dog (Therapy Dogs
International). In stage twelve, the dog/handler team will walk through an entrance simulating
that of a facility. To pass this stage, the handler must walk through the door first and the dog
must follow behind. The last stage of the evaluation, which is only given if the team passes all
other stages, includes the canines reaction to children. The handler will walk with the dog past
playing children. The handler will simulate reading a book while the dog lays down. The dog
must have his back to the children (Therapy Dogs International). This test shows the dogs
reaction to being around children, and whether or not the dog is actually unable to interact with
the children during the test even though he is not officially registered yet. If the dog/handler team
passes all stages of the test, the dog/handler team is eligible to receive its animal-assisted therapy
certification.
Although many breeds of dogs hold excellent potential, a few breeds in particular make
reliable therapy dogs. For one, labrador retrievers consistently (are) named the most popular
breed in the United States (Barrington). They are most favored as therapy dogs due to their
intelligence and gentle nature. If trained correctly, labrador retrievers tend to be very obedient.

Humanities 4
Saint Bernards are also admired as therapy dogs for children due to their thick, fluffy coats
(Barrington). The children enjoy petting animals with such soft fur. Another reason popularity
occurs with Saint Bernards and children is because the patience these dogs have with kids. If
children play or tug at their fur, Saint Bernards will not bark or snap at the children. In addition
to Retrievers and Saint Bernards, Beagles are very friendly with new people and they also tend
to get along well with other animals (Barrington). Often times during a visit, dogs meet new
people so it is crucial for them to willingly show affection towards those people.
AAT generally provides ample positive outcomes for many people. For instance, college
students at the University of Ottawa, in Canada, reap the benefits of dog therapy during exam
time. In 2012, the school organized visits for students from a professor, Audrey Giles, and her
dog, Tundra. Giles says about 20 students showed up for the first visit with Tundra and nearly
60 students signed up to meet her during her second session two weeks later (Puppy Rooms).
Giles, a Human Kinetics professor, exclaims how Just petting a dog will decrease your blood
pressure and relieve anxiety (Puppy Rooms). In January 2015, a study through the Human
Animal Bond Research Initiative Foundation attested to this finding and stated that the decline of
stress and anxiety from human-animal interaction could occur because of activating the
hormone oxytocin (Aschwanden). Oxytocin, also known as the cuddle hormone, releases when
people bond socially and psychically. Due to the beneficial aspects of AAT visits, college
students can alleviate their stress and anxiety.
Studies conducted in 2005 by the American Heart Association indicated that heart failure
patients showed that a 12- minute visit helped [their] heart and lung function by lowering
pressures, diminishing release of harmful hormones, and decreasing anxiety (Sheer and

Humanities 5
Gawlinski). For the experiment, they compared the effects of a human visit, a dog/ human team
visit, and no visit at all. They gauged the changes in cardiac function, neuroendocrine (stress
hormone) activation and psychological changes in mood (Sheer and Gawlinski). The data
showed anxiety scores dropped 24 percent for participants who received a visit from the
volunteer-dog team and levels of the stress hormone epinephrine dropped...17 percent (Sheer
and Gawlinski). Kathie M. Cole, a clinical nurse at UCLA Health stated how even a short-term
exposure to dogs has beneficial physiological and psychosocial effects on patients who want it
(Sheer and Gawlinski). A different study in 2011 was conducted on children with autism and
evaluated how therapy dogs would affect the children. Figure 1 indicates the parents report on
how AAT affected their autistic children.
(Figure 1): Parents Report of Experience So Far

Figure 1 clearly shows 83% of the children studied had an improvement in their mood and well
being (IAN Research Findings: Animal-Assisted Therapies.).
Some people may argue that pet therapy is less beneficial than the more traditional talk
therapy. Those who argue against it may question the lack of research to back up the benefits of
AAT (Uyemura). Although sparse the research is out there and has been increasing since

Humanities 6
2002 (Uyemura). In support of this research, the studies previously mentioned express the
interaction of the dog/handler team with the heart failure patients and the improvements in their
overall health. In such an argument as this, people fail to understand the goal of AAT to relieve
anxiety and stress for the moment, and its hope that the euphoric feeling will last, as opposed to
the broader goals of talk therapy.
Over the years, studies on AAT proved the effects dog therapy can have on a person.
These canines are specially trained, and tested by Therapy Dogs International, to ensure they
possess the capability of aiding those in need. Many breeds of dogs are registered therapy dogs,
but some breeds carry a more comforting, more appropriate demeanor. The positive results from
therapy dogs on a person's health have been noted , especially regarding stress and anxiety. More
research in this field could benefit the cause. Ample studies on the benefits of AAT will help
decide if this form of therapy can be used more often, and instead of say talk therapy, to help
people cope productively. Whether they be students at a university or patients in a hospital, with
such coping strengths boosting their health, an abundant amount of therapy will not be necessary,
and they could instead enjoy more high points in life.

Humanities 7
Works Cited
Aschwanden, Christie. Studies: Even Brief Exposure to Animals May Be Good for You.
Newsobserver, 26 Jan. 2015,
www.newsobserver.com/living/article10230926.html
Barrington, Kate. Top 10 Therapy Dog Breeds. PetGuide, VerticalScope Inc., 18 Sept. 2014,
www.petguide.com/blog/dog/top-10-therapy-dog-breeds/11.
IAN Research Findings: Animal-Assisted Therapies. Interactive Autism Network, 8 Mar. 2011,
iancommunity.org/cs/ian_research_reports/treatment_series_animal_assisted_therapies.
Puppy Rooms to Help Stressed-out College Students. Dogtime, Evolve. Media, 27 July 2015,
dogtime.com/trending/16765-puppy-room-to-help-stressed-out-college-students.
Sheer, Neil, and Anna Gawlinski. Dogs Ease Anxiety, Improve Health Status of Hospitalized
Heart Failure Patients. UCLA Health, Los Angeles, CA, American Heart Association, 15
Nov. 2005,
www.uclahealth.org/pac/animal-assisted-therapy-research.
Teaching Down Command - Dogtime. Dogtime, 27 July 2015,
dogtime.com/reference/dog-training/16601-teaching-down-command.
Testing Requirements. Therapy Dogs International,
www.tdi-dog.org/howtojoin.aspx?page=testing%2brequirements.
Therapy Dogs International. Therapy Dogs International,
www.tdi-dog.org/HowToJoin.aspx?Page=New%2BTDI%2BTest.
Uyemura, Brandi-Ann. The Truth About Animal-Assisted Therapy | Psych Central. Psych
Central, 17 July 2016,

Humanities 8
psychcentral.com/lib/the-truth-about-animal-assisted-therapy/.