POSITIVE EFFECTS OF DOG ASSISTANCE CAN BE DIVIDED INTO SEVERAL SECTIONS:
- physical aspect
- mental health
- social aspect
- cognitive/educational aspect
- speech and communication
PHYSICAL ASPECT
- improvement of motor skills: balance, flexibility, coordination, stamina, strengt
- improved eye-hand coordination
- improved fine motor skills
- improved hand grip
- improved body posture
- increased range of motion
- tactile stimulation
MENTAL HEALTH
- decreased anxiety
- increased alertness
- expression of emotions
- empathy
- decreased feelings of loneliness
- positive effect at times of loss and grief
- focus of the present
- increased self-respect and self-value
- increased ability to trust
SOCIAL ASPECT
- improved social skills
- appropriate touch (giving and taking)
- accepting and giving constructive criticism
- improved cooperation with others
- eye contact
- offering and accepting help
- decision-making skills
- decreased manipulative behaviour
- receiving and giving reward or praise
- expressing gratitude
- improved social interactions
- increased desire to belong to a group
COGNITIVE/EDUCATIONAL ASPECT
- improved and longer-lasting attention
- focus on the task
- improved memory and recall
- improved reading skills and reading comprehension
- improved problem-solving skills
- motivation
- improved short and long-term memory
- improved knowledge of concepts
SPEECH AND COMMUNICATION
- improved verbal communication
- improved vocabulary
- ability to ask and answer questions
- improved pronunciation