Who doesn’t love a cute, soft puppy? Did you know that dogs can be a benefit to your health? Well I know that first-hand how good dogs can be for you. My husband and I have two dogs, and one of them is Bella, a Canine Good Citizen Therapy dog. She comes to work with us every day at Fast Track Physical Therapy. She gives patients comfort and brings a smile to their faces even when they are in pain.
There are different types of dogs that can help both physical and emotional needs of people. So, what is the difference between a therapy dog, service dog and emotional support dogs?
A service dog is trained to help people with disabilities such as visual impairments, diabetes, seizure disorders etc. Service dogs are working animals, not pets. They have been specifically trained to perform tasks related to the disabled person’s specific disabilities.
A therapy dog has been obedience trained and is trained to provide comfort and affection to people in hospitals, nursing homes, retirement homes, schools and physical therapy clinics like ours. Therapy dogs provide mental health and physical benefits to people who spend time with them. Spending time with a therapy dog has been shown to lower blood pressure and heart rate, reduce anxiety, and increase endorphins and oxytocin. I know that our patients enjoy time with Bella.
Emotional support dogs provide their owners therapeutic benefits through companionship and love. Emotional support dogs comfort those with mental and emotional conditions such as anxiety, depression, mood disorders etc.
Now, not everyone needs a service or therapy dog, a family pet can be more than just a pet. Studies have shown real health benefits for those living with pets, including, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, reduced stress levels, lower triglyceride, better mental health and help you heal faster from injury or illness. Studies have found that the very act of petting an animal, such as a therapy dog, yields a relaxation response that can help alleviate the need for medication in those who require it for their physical ailments. Just getting out to walk your dog in the neighborhood is getting you up and moving too which is good for your health.
Just a few more reasons to love dogs…:)
