Therapy dogs in

the Special
Education
Classroom
by: Daylynn Spivey
What made
me interested
in this topic?
• Milly
• Boykin Spaniel
Facebook page
 • A certified Therapy Dog provides
comfort and affection to
individuals other than their
owner.

What is a • They visit hospitals, schools,

hospices, nursing homes, and
Therapy more. Unlike service dogs,
therapy dogs are encouraged to
Dog? interact with a variety of people
while they are on-duty including
petting the therapy dog.

• They must undergo therapy dog

training and become certified.
 Benefits of a Therapy Dog in the classroom

Ease social isolation and help children learn social skills.

Help young readers gain confidence.

Boosts attendance.

Improves social and emotional learning

Improves cognitive processing.

The good oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin increase in your body while the bad cortisol
decreases.
 How to be calm and orderly.

Students feel as if they are helping instead of being the one

Thing's needing help.

students More interested in school when an animal is present.

gain fewer disciplinary referrals.

involving students in the daily care of classroom dogs is a

positive experience, promoting their own daily care, like
brushing their teeth at home.
Why schools are adding Therapy Dogs
today
• Staff and students are faced with many challenges imposed by a global pandemic,
government turmoil, and controversial issues involving diversity. Studies have
shown the negative impact that our current realities are having on mental health
and well-being

• TEACHERS : At the end of November, about 48 percent of all women and 37

percent of all men exhibited symptoms of anxiety and depression. Last August,
the National Education Association found that 28 percent of educators said that
the pandemic made them more likely to leave teaching.

• STUDENTS: With exposure to social media, cyberbullying, digital media, violence,

and much more, students are experiencing overwhelming feelings of stress,
anxiety, and depression. With 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6–17 experiencing a mental
health disorder each year and suicide as the second leading cause of death among
people aged 10–34
 Therapy dogs and students with special needs
Students with Autism :
• be more confident to engage with
their environment.
• play “games” with an autistic child
to help with sensory processing. Tug
of war or hide and seek.
• Nonverbal children may increase
how much they speak with their
therapy dog is present
• Some autistic children are prone to
wandering off, and a dog may bark
to let people know if this is
happening.
Students with ADHD: Students with Cerebral
• Researchers from the University of
California showed that therapy Palsy:
dogs can effectively reduce the
symptoms of ADHD. • When kids with Cerebral
• The study randomized participants Palsy or similar neurological
into two groups, using best practice conditions groom or pet a
psychosocial interventions with dog, it helps them build
one group, and the use of the same hand and limb dexterity and
approaches plus certified therapy
strength.
dogs with the other.
•
• Therapy dogs help students
Their findings indicated that the
with Cerebral Palsy become
group assisted by therapy dogs
significantly improved their more confident and
attention and social skills after just comfortable.
eight weeks. They also
demonstrated fewer behavioral
problems.
A few cons…

Allergies Fear Cost Liability

Citations!
• https://autismhomesupport.com/blog/is-a-therapy-dog-right-for-your-child-
with-autism/
• https://www.therapydogs.com/nine-ways-therapy-dogs-can-help-kids-with-
autism/
• https://www.halifaxhumanesociety.org/Dogs--A-Vital-Help-For-Children-With-
Behavioral-Issues-1-10279.html
• https://www.therapydogs.com/therapy-dogs-important-after-the-pandemic/
• https://www.k9readingbuddies.org/benefits-of-therapy-dogs-for-children-with-
disabilities/
• https://kidcompanions.com/special-needs-kids-dogs-and-schools-nine-new-
ways-how-it-works/