University Outreach Program
 

Reducing Exam Stress with Therapy Dogs

Donation-Based Service (Fun fact: your support helps fund our other free community programs!)
 

The Nepean Therapy Dogs Inc. University Outreach Program is designed to help students manage exam-related stress through friendly visits from our trained therapy dog teams.

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Why It Works

Exams can be overwhelming, and stress often makes it harder to think clearly (Jalongo & McDevitt, 2015). Our calm, well-trained therapy dogs help create a relaxing environment, allowing students to regain focus and feel more at ease. Each visit is led by experienced handlers who understand how to support students during high-pressure times.
 

Program Standards

This program is based on successful models from other universities and follows strict standards for dog behaviour, hygiene, and handler training. Each dog and handler team completes over 120 hours of specialised training and is reassessed every year. Every visit includes a mix of experienced and developing teams to ensure high-quality support.​

 

What to Expect

Visits typically include 2–6 therapy dog teams, with one volunteer acting as a team lead. Sessions last up to 90 minutes, with breaks built in for the dogs. All dogs are calm and well-mannered, and our volunteers are warm, patient, and respectful of each student’s needs.

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Safety First

We’re fully covered by $20 million in public liability insurance for peace of mind.