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Virtual therapy dog: An effective way of bringing stress to heel

Watching a video of a therapy dog for just five minutes can meaningfully lower stress levels, a new study shows, offering a simple, stigma-free option for those reluctant to seek traditional mental health support.

Watching a video of a therapy dog for just five minutes can meaningfully lower stress levels, a new study shows, offering a simple, stigma-free option for those reluctant to seek traditional mental health support. “Our findings demonstrate that even with a virtual session, there was a significant reduction in stress among both the student population and the general public, regardless of age,” said co-author John-Tyler Binfet, PhD, Director of UBCO’s Building Academic Retention through K9s(BARK) program. Despite its limitations, the study’s findings suggest that mental health professionals, universities, and communities could use these kinds of videos as a complement to more formal treatment, a bridge while people wait for therapy, or a first step for those who are hesitant to seek help.

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