Human and Dog Relationship

It is one of the most beautiful things to experience. This bond between humans and dogs is traced back to at least 15,000 years ago. The dogs started to help in activities which widespread from the 1970s and 1980s. Dogs have a phenomenal sense of smell that can detect fear, anxiety, and sadness. There are different types of service dogs such as guide dogs, mobility dogs, and medical alert dogs. Animal facilitated therapy(AFT) involves the use of certified dogs which are trained to help patients in medical therapeutic plan. These therapies provide a pleasant environment for the patients and help in reducing several psychological symptoms. It’s been stated that dogs produce a hormone called oxytocin, a hormone that is associated with happiness, affection, and bonding.

Therapy Dogs

Dogs are better known as therapy dogs and Man’s best friend. Therapy dogs are trained to show affection, love, and comfort in hospitals, nursery homes, education centres, old age homes, libraries, etc. Assistant dogs help in day to day life activities to the special needed people. People who are suffering from cognitive and mental illness daily find comfort, closure, and emotional support in therapy dogs. To get a certificate for therapy dogs, the dogs need to be calm, should be able to socialize with strangers, adjust with loud noises and fast movements.

Types of therapy dogs

1) Therapeutic visitation dogs

These are household pets that are taken to nursing homes and schools to visit patients to encourage and socialize with them. This creates a warm and peaceful environment that helps patients.

2) Animal-assisted therapy dogs (AAT)

These dogs help in reaching a patient’s goal. They help in improvement in motor skills, use of limbs, and hand-eye connection. In this playful environment, they play games and activities which help them improve these skills.

3) Therapy dogs

These dogs are in nursing homes helping patients with cognitive and mental illnesses.

Benefits

1) Psychological

It’s been proved that therapy dogs help in reducing anxiety, loneliness, depression, and helps in socializing. In the school setting, it is seen to reduce stress and anxiety before exams, helps in coping up with the suicides, accidents, and deaths taking place.

2) Cognitive

Reading education assistance dogs ( R.E.A.D) helps in improving reading, communication, and concentrating and reduces stress. They are non-judgemental listeners which creates an environment comfortable for the readers. Its been seen that R.E.A.D helps children improve academic performance as they encourage the children by creating enthusiasm in them.

3) Physical

It’s been noticed that interaction with therapy dogs improves cardiovascular health. Moreover, petting animals releases hormones such as serotonin and oxytocin which improves moods

4) Social

Therapy dogs create a positive environment and encourage peoples self-esteem which helps them have positive interactions with everyone daily.

Concerns

1) Hygiene

2) Allergy issue

3) Safety of participant

Facts about Dogs:

1) Dogs have a sense of time

2) They are smarter than two years old

3) They display jealous when the owner gives attention to another creature

4) They are the only animals known to produce this interspecies hormone exchange with humans.

5) They can be trained to detect cancer and other diseases.

6) There are 600M dogs in the world and nearly 400M dogs are stray dogs

7) Dogs can learn by modelling behaviours of the dogs, therefore its easier to train a new puppy with an older dog at home.

Animal Assisted therapy

It is a form of therapy that involves animals as a form of treatment. It comes under Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI). AAI contains subsections based on animals and the targeted population. The most common type of AAI is canine-assisted therapy and equine-assisted therapy. The goal of AAI is to improve social, cognitive functioning, mental health, and emotional support.

Wilsons biophilia hypotheses are based on interest in animals that come from the huge possibility that human survival centuries back was based on the signals of animals. If the animals are in a peaceful and relaxed state, there is no site of terror and they are safe. Six neurotransmitters that influence mood have been seen to be released after 15 minutes of interaction with animals.

Medical uses:

Animals can be seen in a variety of settings such as homes, schools, nursing homes, prisons, etc. AAT has numerous techniques, depending on the needs of the patient such as helping in day to day life activity and navigation.

1. Cognitive Rehabilitation Treatment

Acquired brain injury(ABI) survivors with cognitive impairments can be benefited as it consists of a comprehensive and holistic rehabilitation treatment plan.

2. Pediatric care

Therapists rely on these techniques to monitor children. AAT can be used in children in improving mental health problems. Animals are used in various situations as a distraction, especially during pain and stress as animals are a source of happiness and joy. They can improve one’s mood to reinforce positive behaviour. Animals have created a comfortable environment and reduce pain in pediatric palliative care.

3. Prisons

AAT is useful in prisons to reduce stress in inmates and workers. Inmates being responsible for the dog creates empathy, love, and social control. A reduction of severe violence and offences have been notices in the inmates.

4. Nursing homes

Elderly people in nursing homes seem to be lonely, sad, and not happy but with the presence of a dog, they feel accompanied, comfortable, happy, socially active, keeping both mental and physical health balances which indeed makes good health.

Canine assisted therapy

Therapy dogs interact with patients to enhance therapeutic activities and well being of that person. They comfort the patients through body contact. Therapy dogs are very welcoming and create a warm environment. They reduce the anxiety, fear, and stress the patients are having. Canine assisted therapy is used as one of the therapies to treat diagnoses such as post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD), Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and dementia.

Canine assisted therapy can be used in education centres to develop a positive environment, creative thinking, and more interaction of the students in the classroom. This is also known as the canine-assisted reading program which helps children with special needs.

Benefits from AAT

Many disorders that could be helped by AAT are:

1. psychological disorders like PTSD, ADHD, major depressive disorder (MDD), and ASD

2. Developmental disorder

3. Dementia

4. Cancer

5. Chronic pain

6. Advanced heart failure

Effectiveness:

1. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD)

Children with ADHD may reduce behavioural problems and improve socializing skills with the help of AAT. Its been seen that children who received both canine-assisted therapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) had a reduction in the severity of ADHD symptoms. Although, it does not have long term effects.

2. Post-traumatic stress disorder

AAT for the Treatment of Trauma in Military Veterans :

A disorder that is characterized by a failure to recover after witnessing a terrifying event. It might take months together to recover and just one trigger to bring back those memories of the tragic incident. Animals have two types of effect i.e direct and indirect. Direct effects include a reduction in anxiety and blood pressure while indirect effects result in increased socialization and participation in day to day life. Humans and animals produce the oxytocin hormone which improves one’s mood which affects social and physical wellbeing and decreases blood pressure. Animals comfort the patients by reassuring them that they are at a safe place and keep them accompanied.

3. Autism spectrum disorder

AAT reduces symptoms such as aggressiveness, hyperactivity, and irritability. Canine assisted therapy helps in creating a positive environment by reducing stress and irritability. Children playing with dogs can create a positive environment and dogs acts as a source of catalyst for socializing with humans.

4. Dementia

AAT encourages patients to express emotions and cognitive stimulation during reminiscing memories while the patient is bonding with the animal. There has been a slight reduction in depressive symptoms and increased quality life in patients with dementia

Limitations:

1. The use of AAT within adults who have been sexually assaulted is proportionally more. Animal therapy may not be the catalyst that provides positive success over here.

2. Children might get attached to the animal, once the therapy is done it might have a negative impact.

3. Allergy reactions

Conclusion

Social support theory states that animals are a source of companionship, which is necessary for the well-being of a person. Dogs have a much more impact on elderly people and single children as dogs give them a source of companionship, strength, and happiness. They give people a reason to get up and look forward to every day by giving them a daily routine. Studies have proved that owning a dog reduces stress, anxiety, and even can prolong a human’s lifespan.

Dogs are so loving with no conditions. They have so much love to offer even after being abused they will still have love left in them to offer to their new owners. When you see them grow every day, they became a part of you, they indeed become your happiness. There’s something so beautiful about them. Hence, dogs are man’s best friend.