Heads or tails: Does it matter what part of a therapy dog gets patted?
Medical Xpress
February 18, 2026
Is it a scratch behind the ears while staring into those puppy dog eyes, or is it a gentle pat on the back and a wagging tail that makes spending time with a therapy dog so comforting? New research from UBC Okanagan suggests that when it comes to boosting well-being, it does not matter which part of a therapy dog students interact with—just that they do.
Verticals
healthmedical
Originally published on Medical Xpress on 2/18/2026