Therapy dog Kaneli helps Vaasa students manage study stress

Vaasa University of Applied Sciences has launched a reading dog service to support students, Yle reports. Students can read aloud to Kaneli or practise presentations in a calm and safe environment.

Kaneli, a four-year-old Danish-Swedish farm dog, listens while Aino-Liisa Rasku, a third-year business student, reads English-language material. The dog and its handler will initially be at the school every other week.

Hanna-Kaisa Pernaa, director of the institution’s social and health care unit, says Kaneli is there to help students calm down, lower their heart rate and provide a gentle listener.

The service is particularly intended for students who feel nervous about presenting or face challenges with reading. Research has found that reading dogs can lower heart rates and reduce the production of stress hormones, which can improve concentration, Pernaa says.

Pernaa says students are facing increasing challenges with their wellbeing, including learning difficulties and pressure to progress in their studies. Examination periods can raise stress levels especially high. Students who have moved to Vaasa to study may also experience homesickness.

During the reading session, Kaneli settled beside Rasku on a sofa. When Rasku paused over the pronunciation of long English words, the dog remained calm and occasionally looked at her. Rasku said this made her feel as though Kaneli was encouraging her to continue.

“I immediately felt a wonderful peace of mind, and there were no judgmental looks,” Rasku said.

Kaneli’s owner, Pauliina Sten, has trained as a reading dog handler through the Finnish Kennel Club. She says the dog’s friendly, calm, open and curious nature makes it well suited to the work.

Jyväskylä University has offered reading dogs to students since 2018, and demand for its sessions has been high. Reading dogs also regularly visit libraries in different parts of Finland. The dogs are kept separate from other study areas so that people with allergies are not exposed to them.

Rasku plans to visit Kaneli again, at the latest when she has material from her thesis for the dog to listen to.