Therapy Dogs UK: Enhancing Patient Care

For many humans, dogs bring comfort, joy, and unconditional love—but some dogs can do much more than that by offering healing support to those with mental health conditions. In recent years, the use of therapy dogs has risen in the UK. This post discusses how a therapy dog can significantly improve a person’s emotional wellbeing and support patients across a variety of settings.

Therapy dogs in the UK

Where do therapy dogs work?

Therapy dogs are often used in hospitals and other care facilities, such as rehabilitation centers and nursing homes. They can be used in many different clinical areas, including during speech therapy and physical therapy. While animal therapy isn’t typically something that people sign up for, some hospitals may ask incoming patients if they would be open to a visit from a therapy dog. Volunteers then bring a therapy dog to their room at some point during their stay. Therapy dogs may also sometimes be brought to school settings to support students.

Is an assistance-animal the same as a therapy animal?

Assistance animals and therapy animals share many of the same functions. For example, both types of dogs can benefit humans and their families by brightening lives, bringing joy, helping individuals build confidence, and supporting the overall wellbeing of the humans they support. However, while assistance and therapy animals can both make a real difference in people’s lives, they differ in key ways.   

Assistance dogs are typically specifically trained to offer help and companionship to a person living with a disability, a medical condition, or a mental health condition, such as epilepsy, diabetes, or post-traumatic stress disorder. They’re usually owned by an individual and go with them everywhere. After going through assistance dog training, they may be able to provide practical support, such as sensing when the person may be about to have an episode or fetching items that they may need, as well as emotional support and comfort. 

Therapy dogs, on the other hand, are typically owned by organizations or institutions and are brought to visit individuals each day. Through these visits, they may help enhance therapy and improve the emotional wellbeing of patients who are living with mental and/or physical health conditions.

What does animal-assistance training consist of?

A good therapy dog must do more than be well-behaved and provide comfort; they must adhere to the highest standards in their work. This might require hours of specialized training and assessment with a skilled teacher in a reputable programme. Therapy dogs are typically chosen as puppies and are raised to perform that specific function.

Training for therapy dogs first requires approval of each individual dog by a certified organization, like Pets as Therapy in the UK. There are typically requirements that each dog must meet. For example, some organizations that certify assistance dogs require that the pet dog be at least nine months old and that they have been with their owner for at least nine months. Then, the dog will typically be trained to perform specific functions for their owner or handlers. One of the keys to dog training is usually positive reinforcement, which rewards desired behavior. 

Dog welfare and ethical standards in UK therapy dog programmes

Because the UK lacks universal legal regulation governing its therapy dog programmes, therapy dog organisations are not required to be accredited. In most cases, a training dog’s welfare relies on individual handlers and specific organisation guidelines. Ethical programmes have key standards that prioritize the dog’s needs (such as breaks, no punitive training, and stress monitoring) and comply with the Animal Welfare Act 2006. They will also require clear handler training and reliable insurance to ensure both human and canine wellbeing.

Practical advice for working with or accessing therapy dogs 

If you’re interested in working with a therapy dog or would just like more information on how you can make a donation to support the major charities that train them, you can reach out to Pets As Therapy (PAT) or Therapy Dogs Nationwide (TDN), or smaller groups like Cariad Pet Therapy. You might participate in fundraising events or join a volunteer organization whose members care for or sponsor a dog’s education.

If you’re interested in registering your own dog, you can apply to the above organisations online. You and your dog will undergo training/assessments on temperament, health, and obedience. Organisations like AssistancDogs.org.uk can help you find programmes and facilities that need your help. Note that before you and your therapy dog team up to help others, you’ll likely need specialized insurance coverage.

What can therapy dogs help with?

Therapy dogs can help improve the daily functioning and emotional wellbeing of individuals in various situations. They might be used with young people in schools, like to help children and adolescents on the autism spectrum or to support students with behavioral challenges in gaining a sense of calm, which may improve behavioral and academic outcomes. Therapy dogs might also be used to lift the spirits of patients with cancer or other serious medical conditions. In terms of mental health, therapy dogs may help reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders.

How therapy dogs empower individuals to heal at their own pace 

Therapy dogs offer nonjudgmental support, provide unconditional love, and serve as a social bridge. They can help people with mental health challenges achieve greater independence and confidence, enabling them to focus on moving forward in healing. A therapy dog may also help individuals discover strategies to overcome social barriers and become more involved in their communities and the world. 

Psychotherapy to complement animal therapy: How therapy dogs strengthen therapeutic relationships

Therapy dogs can be helpful and bring comfort and joy to their humans, making a real difference in the lives of those living with mental health conditions. They are typically not a standalone treatment, however, but part of a support team that includes a credentialed therapist. 

Therapy can help address symptoms of a variety of mental health conditions, from anxiety disorders and depression to post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders. It may also help people experiencing the emotional effects of medical conditions or disabilities, or those going through major life transitions. 

Some people attend therapy to build confidence and cultivate gratitude, facilitating personal growth. Therapy can also benefit families seeking to build stronger relationships, improve communication, and strengthen conflict-resolution skills. 

While therapy can be a helpful tool for many, some people may live in a UK region with few therapists. Others might prefer to talk with a therapist outside their immediate community. In these and other cases, online therapy can often be a viable alternative. With online therapy, individuals can have a conversation with their therapist remotely from home, no matter where they live in the UK. They can choose a method of communication that’s comfortable for them, such as audio, video, or live chat. 

Over the last decade, numerous studies have suggested the efficacy of online therapy in helping individuals address mental health symptoms and emotional challenges around the world. For example, one systematic review and meta-analysis on the topic suggests that online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be effective for treating a number of mental health conditions, including depression, social anxiety, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and bipolar disorder.