Therapy Dog Program

Therapy dog program

Our therapy dogs missed you! Spend some time with our friendly therapy dogs at the Wellness Lounge – it’s a great way to de-stress from your busy student schedule.

The Therapy Dog program is made available at the University of Ottawa through the department of Health Promotion, in partnership with Ottawa Therapy Dogs and other local therapy dog organizations.

What to expect from a therapy dog session

pet therapy
  • Therapy dogs can have a beneficial impact on both mental and physical health. Studies have shown that a friendly interaction with an animal (e.g., petting) helps lower blood pressure, reduce overall pain and ease feelings of loneliness, anxiety and depression. Therapy dogs can also help you cope with homesickness while away at university.
  • Therapy dogs are not service dogs. Therapy dogs successfully complete an evaluation, along with their owner, to ensure they are suitable to take part in session on campus and help improve your wellness. Therapy dogs volunteer with their owner to offer animal-assisted therapy to many people. Apart from visits on campus, they also volunteer at many other health care and social service settings.
  • Therapy dog sessions take place in a controlled, safe environment to ensure the safety of all participants and therapy dog teams.

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Interested in having a session at your faculty/service?

We are currently not accommodating private bookings for therapy dog sessions. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. 

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Becoming certified with a Therapy Dog program

Are you interested in becoming a certified therapy dog team? If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].
Learn more about therapy dog certifications