Take a Break from the Books: Reasons to Visit Carleton’s Therapy Dog Program

With final exam season rapidly approaching, it’s common for students to experience a level of stress and anxiety. To succeed in your academics, it’s just as important to take care of your mental health as it is to study. Along with Carleton’s many wellness resources, the university hosts a wonderful therapy dog program, featuring 20 trained dogs and certified handlers, available to all members of the Carleton community. If just the thought of the dogs isn’t enough, here’s three reasons why you should take some time to visit the program.

Give Your Brain a Break

In order for you to work at full capacity, it’s vital to work within your limits and give yourself the time to rest and reset. However, flopping onto your bed and scrolling reels might not rejuvenate you the way that you’d hope. Carleton’s therapy dogs go through rigorous training and evaluation to ensure they’re suitable to support students, certified in cuddling away your stress.

The dogs have varying levels of size and energy levels. Whether you’re in the mood for an energetic playtime session or just looking to hang out with a sleepy pup, there’s an option for you. By visiting the dogs, you can give your brain the right type of downtime and relaxation that you need to tackle your exams.

The Handlers are Trained, Too

When you visit a therapy dog at Carleton, you aren’t just gaining access to the dog. All handlers are current staff or faculty at Carleton and receive mental health support training as a part of the program.

It can be difficult to seek help for a plethora of reasons. If you’re simply looking for a low-commitment, relaxed environment to have a conversation, Carleton’s therapy dog handlers are more than happy to be a resource.

Use the Wellness Service Navigator for more personalized mental health and wellness resources available to you as a student.

Meet New Friends

If you’re looking to get involved in the community and meet new people at Carleton, the therapy dog program is a great way to find new friends. By bonding over the dogs, you can help in growing Carleton’s campus community while giving yourself a mental health boost.

To find time to meet with a therapy dog, visit the Mental Health and Wellness website for scheduled paw-ffice hours and availability. It’s also a good idea to check out the @CUTherapyDog Instagram account for updates, insights and fun content related to the dogs.

Good luck with the end of term and exams, Ravens!