The impact of dog therapy on nursing students’ heart rates and ability to pay attention in class

Abstract

In this study we explored if the presence of a therapy dog has an impact on students’ stress and ability to pay attention in class. The students' heart rates were measured when the dog was present and when he was absent. The students were also asked to fill in a questionnaire. results showed no significant difference in the students’ average and maximum heart rates, between the experimental and control group, however the average resting heart rate was lower when the dog

was present. The low resting heart rate coupled with written comments from the students in- dicate that the presence of the dog did reduce stress and had a calming effect on the students.