Researcher Onyoo Yoo at Konkuk University, Korea, commented that “this study demonstrates that specific dog activities can increase levels of relaxation, emotional stability, attention, concentration and creativity by facilitating increased positive brain activity. Additionally, interacting with dogs also reduces stress and creates a positive emotional response.”
Some previous studies have said that dogs can help people reduce symptoms of depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but it is unclear how effective it is, but it is said that for the form ” “Pet therapy” like this, to be effective, the dog owner must be someone who loves animals first.
For example, for some people who were bitten by a dog when they were young, which made them afraid, when they grow up they may not feel like being close to other dogs anymore. In this case pet therapy may not be effective.
Expert Jennifer Dobkin is the person in charge of a pet therapy program for a number of patients and medical staff, the “Human-Animal Connection” program of the University of California, USA. She said she has seen how interacting with dogs helps people focus and relax. She said an employee who was stressed after a bad day at work relaxed, smiled happily and told her “you have no idea how much I need this.”
Jennifer Dobkin shared that she once brought her dog to visit a family gathered around her dying father. Amid the heaviness and sadness, this family was able to free themselves from their miserable mood and “focus on something that required absolutely nothing of them: petting a dog” – she recounted.
Children at Stuart House, a center in California that specializes in treating sexually abused children, also enjoy playing with the center’s dog named Norse, a golden retriever. while they talked to investigators.
Ms. Dobkin said that “our dogs are brought in to those situations to make it easier for the children to talk about a very stressful situation that has happened to them. I think having the dog around helps.” The children concentrate because the animal brings them comfort.”
Theo NBCNews