The Impact of Therapy Dogs on Well-Being and Teaching and Learning in PK-12 Education: Stakeholder Perspectives

The contemporary educational landscape prioritizes enhancing personal well-being through diverse, innovative, and multidimensional support frameworks. Therapy dogs are increasingly integrated into PK-12 educational settings to support stakeholders’ well-being. However, limited research examines the perspectives of education stakeholders on the effectiveness of therapy dog programs in schools. This study aimed to: (1) explore how therapy dogs impact the social-emotional well-being of students, faculty, and staff; and (2) assess their influence on teaching and learning. Three hundred forty-three education stakeholders from 43 district locations (elementary, junior high, high school, and offices) that participate in the district-wide Paws & Peers therapy dog program completed a QR code survey to provide their feedback about interacting with a therapy dog. Thematic analysis identified two primary themes–well-being and teaching and learning–further categorized into eight sub-themes and four sub-themes, respectively. Findings indicate that therapy dogs contribute to stress reduction, classroom participation, and social connectivity, promoting well-being through inclusive and emotionally supportive educational environments. Results support the positive impact of stakeholders (students, faculty, and staff) interacting with therapy dogs in PK-12 education settings promoting the well-being of stakeholders in a variety of areas, as well as supporting additional benefits for teaching and learning.