Therapy dogs help students de-stress — CanineAssistants, an Alpharetta, Georgia-based nonprofit group, brings therapy dogs-in-training to help Emory University students with finals stress. Jen Christensen Therapy dogs help students de-stress — An Emory student crashes while studying for finals. Studies show excessive stress can impair memory. Jen Christensen/CNN Therapy dogs help students de-stress — To become certified, the dogs must master 90 commands and maintain a total sense of calm. Jen Christensen/CNN Therapy dogs help students de-stress — Counselors say finals stress often causes a kind of tunnel vision. The dogs help students step out of themselves and relax. Jen Christensen/CNN Therapy dogs help students de-stress — Even after just a couple minutes, students visibly relax with the dogs. Jen Christensen/CNN Therapy dogs help students de-stress — Studies show canine interaction increases a human's level of oxytocin, a hormone that reduces anxiety and blood pressure. Therapy dogs help students de-stress — Emory pre-med student Ali Serpe, center, tells the dog she is petting, Wesley, "You are the perfect medicine for finals." Jen Christensen Therapy dogs help students de-stress — At the end of their dog sessions, Emory students often took photos of their new furry friends to carry a piece of calm with them. Jen Christensen/CNN Prev Next
