When therapy comes with a wagging tail
A therapy dog is so much more than a happy pill. When guided by trained personnel, a friendly dog becomes one of the most versatile and powerful tools in an occupational therapy session — making therapy genuinely fun while helping children reach their goals.
Written by Koh Kah Yong & Jewel Yi
Four ways a therapy dog helps
Mood & Motivation
Interaction with a therapy dog is well-researched to lower stress and anxiety, reduce cortisol and lift mood — making children more motivated and engaged during sessions.
Social Skills
Children learn to interpret a dog's non-verbal cues and respond appropriately (patting, treats, commands). These natural, rewarding interactions give immediate feedback and real-time practice — far more meaningful than pretend play.
Cognitive Skills
A therapy dog creates a unique context to apply cognitive skills — sequencing to bake dog cookies, working memory to recall the dog's name and commands, or learning dog breeds.
Physical Skills
Peeling treats and playing catch with an enthusiastic corgi builds fine-motor skills and coordination — with fun that makes movement feel effortless, especially for children with muscle-tone challenges.
Effective therapy should be really fun
At Little Marvels, we capitalise on children's natural fascination with animals to inject even more joy into therapy. If you have questions about animal-assisted therapy — or are just as excited to meet our dog — we'd love to hear from you.
Moments with our therapy dogs
Watch animal-assisted therapy at Little Marvels
Curious about animal-assisted therapy?
Reach out for a free guidance call, or fill out our enquiry form to learn more.