Robots may replace therapy dogs

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Portsmouth describes why robotic animals may be a better alternative to therapy dogs for children and young people. 

Dogs are the most commonly used animals for therapy because of their trainability and social nature, but they also have the potential to trigger allergies or transmit diseases.

“We know that real dogs can provide calming and enjoyable interactions for children – increasing their feelings of wellbeing, improving motivation and reducing stress,” said Dr. Leanne Proops.

“This preliminary study has found that biomimetic robots – robots that mimic animal behaviors – may be a suitable replacement in certain situations and there are some benefits to using them over a real dog.”

Video Credit: University of Portsmouth 

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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer