What I noticed when my therapy dog visited students after state testing
I’m a therapy dog handler, and my golden retriever Archer and I recently visited a group of students after state testing.
What struck me was that the testing was technically over, but the stress clearly wasn’t.
The kids didn’t need anything complicated in that moment. They just needed a few minutes where nothing was being asked of them. No answers to give. No performance. No pressure.
When Archer came in, the room shifted. The kids smiled. Their voices softened. Some just sat near him. Some pet him. Some seemed relieved to have a quiet, happy presence in the room.
And Archer was just as happy to see them.
I write children’s books about Archer partly because I want to help educate kids, families, and schools about the benefits of therapy dogs when they are properly trained, well-handled, and thoughtfully included.
I know therapy dogs are not a magic fix. Schools have to consider allergies, fear of dogs, logistics, insurance, training, and the needs of all students. But experiences like this make me believe more schools should at least understand what a good therapy dog team can offer: calm, connection, emotional support, and a little joy when kids need it.
For teachers, parents, school counselors, or therapy dog handlers: have you seen therapy dogs make a difference for students after stressful school experiences like testing, grief, lockdown drills, or just a hard day?