SANT VICENC DELS HORTS, Spain – With everyone adjusting to the new normal to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), students in a special needs learning center are getting their regular dose of cheer from a new program. Their new therapy comes in the form of a furball with four legs, a wagging tail, and a tongue-out smile.
According to the school director, the students seem to enjoy their therapy dog program even more amid the pandemic. After needing to stay at home for six months due to COVID-19 restrictions, students are extra excited for pet playtime. Luckily, the school’s therapy dogs are always game for fun and warm cuddles.
“What we have noticed a lot during the time of the pandemic is that they pay much more attention to the dog,” Meritxell Arias, a special education teacher, told Reuters.
Arias explained that teachers need to wear face masks in school as it’s part of COVID-19 protocols. As a result, students can’t see their facial reactions and friendly smiles. On the other hand, dogs don’t need facial reactions to show love. In fact, teachers noted that letting students play with therapy dogs is giving them a response they didn’t initially expect.
Helping Students Keep Calm
Hector Aguera, a 14-year-old student with an autism spectrum disorder, expressed how the therapy dog program helps him. But he admitted that it wasn’t always that way.
“I was very afraid of him because I had never seen such a big dog,” Aguera told Reuters. Over time, he developed a close bond with the therapy dog.
“Niko helps me when I am nervous or overwhelmed, and I need help; he comes, I pet him, my nerves go away, and I remain calm,” he added.
Pet Therapy for Children with Special Needs
Many health groups explore pet therapy as one of the programs to provide a feeling of calmness to patients. Aside from mental health centers, nursing homes, hospitals, and other health centers also use this program. Therapy dogs have the training to help keep patients calm during stressful procedures.
For special needs children, on the other hand, playing with pets offers more than calm. It can also offer affection and social interaction.
Autism Speaks says many but not all therapy dogs have the training to assist in therapy. That said, they advise using an approved agency when choosing a therapy dog if the aim is to offer therapy to the special needs person.
However, this doesn’t mean that a dog without special training wouldn’t be able to provide companionship to a child with special needs. Many dogs are calm, loving, and patient by nature, and playing with them can be enough to cheer up any person.
Autism Speaks also notes that it’s crucial to know the difference between therapy dogs and service dogs. The latter receives special training and certification to assist a person with a disability. For instance, many autism service dogs have the training to calm an emotional meltdown or gently disrupt self-harming behaviors.
