Under the Direction of a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP):

🐶 Encourages verbal communication through commands and interaction (e.g., “sit,” “come here”).
🐾 Enhances social language skills by promoting turn-taking, greetings, and question-asking.
🐶 Reduces anxiety during speech tasks, improving focus and participation.
🐾 Provides a real-world context for practicing descriptive language and storytelling.
🐶 Motivates engagement in therapy through play-based, dog-centered activities.

Under the Direction of an Occupational Therapist (OT):

🐾 Supports sensory integration through tactile interaction (e.g., petting, brushing).
🐶 Promotes fine and gross motor skills through guided tasks (e.g., feeding the dog, walking with a leash).
🐾 Improves emotional regulation by offering calming, consistent presence.
🐶 Encourages executive functioning skills like planning, sequencing, and following multi-step directions.
🐾 Builds confidence and independence in daily living skills through responsibility-based tasks involving the dog.

Combined Benefits:

🐶 Fosters a safe, supportive environment that makes therapy more approachable and enjoyable.
🐾 Helps generalize therapy goals to real-world situations through meaningful, interactive experiences.