Our dogs are naturally caring creatures. Every time we’re upset, they are the first ones by our side. And it’s impossible not to feel better with those big brown eyes looking up at us. But some people who suffer from anxiety might need a little extra doggie love. That is why therapy dogs are such vital help to people who experience anxiety and mental health challenges.
And to be honest, these can often be the most difficult problems to deal with, since the sufferers don’t have visible troubles. Regardless, they still often need help managing their troubles, and no one is better for the job than a therapy dog.
One dog was trained to keep his owner safe during panic attacks. The dog specifically looks for oncoming panic attacks, by detecting the subtle changes in behavior. And the incredible act of a therapy dog looking after their owner during a panic attack at the airport was caught on camera.
Amber Oliver, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer from Massachusetts suffers from panic attacks. She taught her dog, Oakley, to pick up on the subtle changes to her body temperature, as well as her breathing and heart rate. From there, Oakley then warns her when she’s about to suffer a panic attack.
The film clip that was so heart-warming, was captured at the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky International Airport. In the footage, you can see Oakley giving Oliver the comfort she needed by rubbing himself against her legs in order to get her attention.
As she shared, “Oakley helps me every single day. Oakley is always watching and paying attention to me making sure to help me whenever needed.”
Hopefully, this video can be a reminder that sometimes people with therapy dogs suffer from illnesses that we can’t see – which is why kindness is always so important.
Watch the video below:
