A therapy dog provides comfort to people who may need it. Research shows that therapy animals can help reduce stress, anxiety and depression on a chemical level. You may find therapy animals in a variety of settings. Schools, libraries, hospitals, assisted living homes, nursing homes and even in some dental offices.
Oakley currently visits medical clinics and schools. She will be expanding her therapy visits to include hospitals, dentist offices and libraries. Currently Oakley visits at local elementary schools helping the children develop social skills, encourage communication and of course helping them learn to read without being self-conscious.
Learn more about Therapy Dogs from the National Library of Medicine
stress relief,
reduce anxiety
Those suffering from depression, stress, and anxiety may find it difficult to open up. Dogs won’t judge or condemn those they visit, and they provide smiles and a sense of security.
laughter
Spending time with a therapy dog raises endorphins and helps keep people’s minds clear of mood-lowering thoughts, which raises their positively even further! Furthermore, this positivity and calming effect can, over time, lead to improved physical health by reducing blood pressure and anxiety.
Improved Communication Skills
Therapy dogs have been shown to have several advantages to those in school.
At a very young age, Corina had an optimistic outlook. She sought out the comfort and affection of animals, as well as the support of friends and family. Corina was frequently observed cuddling, with or reading to her cats, dogs, hamsters or rabbits.
As an adult, in 2013, Corina began to train her first therapy dog Misty. Misty was a Golden Retriever who taught Corina the importance of recognizing a dog’s intuition and the powerful benefits that a therapy dog can offer to people of all ages. Corina knew that Misty came into her life to be a conduit to give comfort and support to everyone! It was a sad day when, five years later, Misty passed away from cancer when she was 9 years old.
It wasn’t until 2020 when Corina got Oakley as an 8 week old puppy with the intention of training her to be a therapy dog. Oakley was a sassy girl for sure. She was far different from soft and gentle Misty. Oakley was nick named Miss Sassy Pants for a reason… Oakley’s funny expressions, silly antics, and a great love of children inspired Corina to write her first book Oakley’s Therapy Dog Adventures -Learning my new job.
Oakley was born on February 21, 2020. She is a Golden Mountain Dog. Half Golden Retriever and half Bernese Mountain Dog. She was a typical puppy. She was cute and independent from the moment we brought her home. She was eager to learn new tricks. And of course she got lots of treats! Make sure and check out her other pictures in the Miss Sassy Pants and Therapy
Oakley the therapy dog
adventures are heartwarming
Oakley is so sweet and relatable. It’s easy to cheer for her as she learns her new responsibilities, making normal puppy mistakes along the way. The subtle lessons on self-forgiveness and being kind to others is driven home by such a lovable furry friend! Can’t wait to read the next volume!
