Therapy dogs from Vancouver ecoVillage are getting some student snuggle time while helping the students unwind.
Studies have shown that therapy-dog visits alleviate stress and improve health and well-being. Dogs are popular visitors in hospitals, senior centres, airports–and now universities. To help students adjust to university life, UBC Psychology is teaming up with the UBC Alma Mater Society and Vancouver ecoVillage to bring their therapy dogs to campus from September 27 to November 7 2016.
Stanley Coren with his therapy dog, Ripley
At these dog therapy sessions, Dr. Stanley Coren, Professor Emeritus of Psychology and canine behaviour expert, and Dr. Frances Chen, Assistant Professor of Psychology, will be exploring how therapy dog sessions influence students’ stress and well-being.
The sessions are open to UBC students and the public on a donation basis.
Register for a session
UBC students at a Doggy De-stress at UBC event:
Vancouver ecoVillage has a rigorous therapy-dog training program, which requires several months of training and testing. The therapy dogs are re-tested annually to ensure they keep displaying temperament that shows confidence, good manners and sociability with other dogs and people. The dogs meet strict health requirements, are well-groomed and gentle at all times. They even do tricks to entertain and amuse. Most of all, these special dogs and their handlers have a therapeutic and calming influence on people in the community who have the pleasure of meeting them.
Photos courtesy of UBC Public Affairs and the Urban Pet Gazette.
