In recent years, high school and college campuses across the United States have been working to implement new policies to support students who are struggling with their mental health. One such practice is keeping therapy dogs on campuses. Some schools have therapy dogs year-round, while others only bring in puppies for the students around exam season. However this method is implemented, therapy dogs are becoming more important to student life.

What exactly do therapy dogs do? Animals are useful in regulating pulse, anxiety, and depression, due to their ability to boost serotonin and dopamine—chemicals in the body which affect how people feel. Serotonin improves long-term happiness, while dopamine improves short-term feelings of pleasure. Even short interactions with therapy dogs, such as a quick pet or playing with them briefly, have been shown to improve student morale by boosting these chemicals, according to Therapy Dogs. 

According to the National Library of Medicine, therapy dogs are also good for opening students up to the idea of speaking to mental health professionals. Many students, regardless of what they may be struggling with, are reluctant to speak to counseling services about their mental health. Therapy dogs have proved useful in relaxing students and making them more comfortable with opening up to professionals that can better assist them.

There are more than 50,000 therapy dogs in the United States, according to National Geographic. The movement of therapy dogs in schools is growing, although it is difficult for some schools to offer these therapeutic services due to the expense of caring for the dogs. In addition, therapy dogs must be properly trained, as untrained dogs do not have the same discipline and calm that is necessary for the dogs to be most effective in classroom and campus settings.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, student mental health has been attaining a growing amount of national attention. Therapy dogs are just one way that schools are providing support for struggling students. The movement of therapy dogs in schools and on campuses could have positive and lasting implications on student mental health nationwide.