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.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

learning disability

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