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Additional psychological benefits of therapy dog programs in educational settings are that they can provide comfort, companionship, a diversion to unpleasant thoughts or situations, can lessen resistance and expedite the development of a relationship in the therapy process, and can help people feel more comfortable in a new situation.

Psychological Benefits in School Setting

The University of Connecticut uses therapy dogs in their program Paws to Relax, available during finals week to help students deal with increased anxiety. The school uses them in other stressful situations, including suicides and deadly automobile accidents. Since 2011, Yale Law School has used therapy dogs to aid students experiencing stress.

Stressful Situations in Educational Settings

On December 14, 2012, therapy dogs were brought to the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut following the shooting and deaths of 26 people, providing comfort to children and parents. Previously used therapy dogs to offer comfort to faculty, staff and students following the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting in Blacksburg, Virginia when 32 people were killed.

Researchers have identified further cognitive benefits of therapy dogs which include an increase in mental stimulation and assistance in the recall of memories and the sequence of events. Dog Assisted reading programs allow students having difficulties with reading opportunities to read books to a canine companion who unlike others, will not judge them. One article described the goals of canine-assisted reading programs to include increasing reading fluency, increasing motivation to read, providing encouragement for reluctant readers, and making reading fun.

Physical Benefits

Interaction with therapy dogs improves cardiovascular health and as a result some patients are able to take less medication. As stress lessens in those feeling anxious, breathing slows down. Further, humans petting animals promoted the release of hormones that can elevate moods specifically serotonin, prolactin and oxytocin. Further, patients receiving occupational therapy have improved their fine motor skills by grooming therapy dogs.

Social Benefits

Promotes greater self-esteem in students and encouraged positive interactions with peers and their teachers. Additionally, children with autism demonstrated increased verbal abilities as well as social interaction with their therapy sessions when animals were present compared to traditional therapy sessions without them.