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Petting a dog is one of the most relaxing things you can do. It has been shown to boost mood and relieve stress. For these reasons, doctors, therapists, social workers and other public health workers have started bringing their dogs to work. The same comfort and relief that therapy dogs have been bringing to patients in hospitals for years is now helping people in a number of different situations. The Dog Is In Animal-assisted therapy is a growing field with real research to back up the observed benefits of including dogs in therapy sessions. Many psychiatrists and therapists are now bringing their dogs to work often for the simple reason that dogs comfort most people. When a patient is resistant to talking and sharing, has feelings that are difficult to express or just feels anxious in general, a dog on the couch next to him or her to pet can make all the difference. Research has shown that petting a dog for just a few minutes can decrease the stress hormone cortisol and increase the mood-enhancing neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. The Amazing Sniffer As most people know, dogs’ sense of smell is vastly superior to humans. They can smell trace amounts of explosives, well-hidden drugs and even cancer cells in tissue samples. Many therapists believe dogs can smell the different psychological states of a patient and mete out the appropriate amount of comfort in response. Some therapists claim their dogs can sense the difference between a depressed and an anxious patient and these dogs have been known to treat each patient differently. Help for All Ages Dogs seem to be especially helpful to the very young and the elderly. Both subgroups can be particularly vulnerable and can benefit from the assistance of animals. Children who have experienced great trauma and who have retreated into themselves will often respond more to a dog than to a therapist. The dog can be a way to get the child to trust the doctor and to begin to open up. Elderly patients, especially those with dementia or Alzheimer’s often feel confused and uncomfortable in a new situation. For them, going to a doctor’s office can be an extremely stressful occasion. Seeing a dog right away can instantly put them ease and help them to feel safe. Not Just for Therapy Medical doctors are also beginning to notice the benefits of having a dog in the office. Although they can’t follow the patient into the examination or operating room, dogs provide comfort to patients in the waiting room. They have been used for years in hospitals to make patients with chronic and terminal illnesses feel more at home and just to brighten up everyone’s day. It has been found that petting a dog for just five minutes can provide as much relaxation as a hospital worker’s twenty-minute break. What about the Dog? Dogs also benefit from this whole scenario. Dogs were bred to work for humans and most are happiest when they have something to do and a sense of purpose. They are also, of course, highly social animals and most would prefer a day in the office meeting new people and seeing old friends to staying home alone. Therapy dogs spend most of their day getting affection and treats and loving every minute of it. Not all dogs, however, are cut out for this work. While there is no official standard or training guidelines for therapy dogs, they generally need to be well trained and to have a low level of energy. No particular breed is better than another for therapy work; individual characteristics are more important. Using dogs in therapy is a new and exciting field of study and medical schools are beginning to offer courses in animal assistance. More and more public health workers are seeing the benefits of bringing their best friend to work, which insures that dogs will continue to help people in new ways. Puppy City has been around for over 50 years, we pride ourselves in being the home for quality puppies for sale in Brooklyn, New York. We also have all of the supplies you will ever need, from dog food, to wee wee pads, to all the treats you will ever need in a lifetime. Visit us at http://www.PuppyCityNY.com
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