11/11/2025
TD Harley is happy to report an excellent first day of school! Therapy dogs are becoming increasingly common in schools, and research shows they can make a meaningful difference in students’ well-being and learning.
Reviewing several decades of work, Jerri J. Kropp & Mikaela M. Shupp (2017) found therapy dog programs in classrooms are linked improved social/emotional skills and better student attitudes toward school. Therapy dogs can act as social facilitators; encouraging empathy, decreasing aggression, and fostering smoother peer interactions.
Interactions with therapy dogs can lower anxiety and support emotional regulation. Christine Grové and colleagues (2021) found that therapy dog programs in schools help reduce stress and promote overall well-being.
Therapy dogs can also enhance focus and academic engagement, especially during reading activities. Children often show higher on-task behavior and more willingness to participate when a dog is present (Kropp et al., 2017). Reduced stress may also support better attention and cognitive functioning (Grové et al., 2021).
If you are interested in getting a certified therapy dog for your school or classroom, please reach out and we can guide you every step of the way!
References
Grové, C., Henderson, L., Lee, F., & Wardlaw, P. (2021). Therapy dogs in educational settings: Guidelines and recommendations for implementation. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8, 655104. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.655104
Kropp, J. J., & Shupp, M. M. (2017). Review of the research: Are therapy dogs in classrooms beneficial? Forum on Public Policy, 2017(2). https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1173578.pdf