Therapy dogs may boost school attendance in struggling students
NCT ID NCT07168460
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether trained dogs can help children who miss a lot of school. 64 students in grades 3-9 with at least 15% absence were randomly assigned to receive either dog-assisted support or standard teaching for 30 minutes twice a week for 10-12 weeks. The goal was to see if the dogs could improve attendance, motivation, and learning.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- dog-assisted support
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a new, engaging way to help children with school attendance problems feel more motivated and attend school more regularly.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed study with only 64 participants. Results may not apply to all children, and the effect of the dog may be due to extra attention rather than the dog itself.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for LEARNING DEVELOPMENT are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Uppsala University & Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Uppsala, Sweden
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Tape to tame Post-Surgery face swelling?
- Can a virtual meadow or a Mind's eye stream calm hospital anxiety?
- Smartwatch could spot nerve damage before it starts
- Can healing at home beat hospital care for bedsores?
- Can virtual reality make knee pain therapy more engaging?
- Can sound waves outperform needles for Jumper's knee?