In modern Ukrainian society, where the medical system is overloaded, and the psycho-emotional state of the population is in a constant zone of turbulence after injuries, losses and front-line experience, unconventional but practically effective forms of support come to the rescue – in particular, canister therapy. It is about purposeful work of trained dogs together with specialists in the field of psychology, pedagogy or rehabilitation. In conditions where patients with severe post-traumatic disorders, autism, disabilities or neuropsychological injuries lose contact with the verbal and rational, it is simple physical interaction with an animal that can restore basic reactions — touch, concentration, attention, emotional connection.
And although in a number of countries canister therapy is already included in state aid protocols, in Ukraine it is still developing only thanks to separate professional teams. This creates a situation where effective practice has neither legislative recognition nor sustained support, although the need for it is evident in the context of war, increasing numbers of PTSD patients and a lack of qualified staff in the mental health care system.
From Totems to Therapy: How Dogs Became Helpers in Healing
Canisterotherapy (lat. “сanis” – dog and Greek. Терапераия [therapeia] – treatment, recovery – ed.) is a method of treatment and rehabilitation that uses dogs to improve the emotional and physical condition of patients under the supervision of specialists. And although at first glance it may seem that this is just a fashionable novelty, in fact, the roots of this approach reach deep into history. In primitive societies, animals not only served as totems, but also actively influenced the mental state of people through rituals and symbols, relieving stress and giving inner peace. Even then, human relationships with animals became a kind of therapy that supported psychological health.
In the modern world, canister therapy gained popularity after dogs began to be used in mental hospitals in England in 1792. Yes, in his new clinic for the mentally ill, William Tuke radically changed the approach to treatment. Instead of using traditional methods such as straitjackets and medication, he began to use the principles of Christian kindness in expressions of compassion, love, understanding and trust. It was then that the first experience of using dogs in therapy appeared. Doctors immediately noticed a significant improvement in the patients’ condition. Aggression decreased, and attacks became less frequent.
This was the beginning of the use of canister therapy as a rehabilitation method aimed at overcoming the limitations associated with mental health disorders. Although the term “canister therapy” appeared much later, the first to use it was the American psychotherapist Boris Levinson in 1961. He noted that his patients responded better during sessions when his golden retriever was in the office. Also, the doctor accidentally noticed how interacting with a dog helped a child with autism.
This discovery became the basis for further research and implementation of the method in the treatment of children and adults with various mental and physical disorders. All observations contributed to the development of this practice, and over time it began to be used not only in medical institutions, but also in military hospitals. The legendary Yorkshire terrier Smokey, a hero of the Second World War, became the first known therapy dog, which helped wounded soldiers to recover faster.
Four-legged doctors: how canister therapy changes the lives of Ukrainians
Rehabilitation using canister therapy is gaining popularity in Ukraine every day. Thus, the INNIKOS Kyiv Canister Therapy Center, which opened at the end of 2023 with the support of the Royal Canin Foundation, became the first institution in Ukraine that provides free psycho-emotional support through specially trained dogs. Only in the first year of its existence, the center is impressive by the results: from October 2023 to September 2024, 1,799 free canister therapy sessions were conducted, including 301 group and 1,498 individual sessions.
The growing popularity of canister therapy in Ukraine reflects its effectiveness as a method of psycho-emotional care that combines the benefits of interaction with animals and the skilled work of therapists. In the conditions of war, when stress and psychological trauma have become a part of everyday life, the center is visited not only by military personnel and veterans, but also internally displaced persons, in particular children affected by the conflict. During the year, more than 1,660 people received help, including 306 children. Currently, the Canister Therapy Center actively interacts with such organizations as “Ya Mariupol”, “Veteran Hub” and “Baza 4.5.0”.
Currently, canister therapy is actively used to help children with disabilities, patients with autism, depression, as well as for the rehabilitation of people who have survived traumatic events – war or disasters. Of course, this is not a panacea, but it helps to reduce stress, improve socialization and even relieve physical symptoms. Canister therapy has proven to be incredibly effective not only for children, but also for the elderly, helping them fight loneliness and emotional isolation.
It is worth noting that canister therapy, among other non-traditional methods of treatment, occupies a unique niche due to its availability and versatility. Perfectly combining domesticated animals with social rehabilitation, this method uses ordinary dogs, which, unlike more complex and expensive types of therapy, do not require special conditions for maintenance. Dogs have long been accustomed to life near people, easily adapt to their homes and feel comfortable there. In addition, the variety of breeds allows you to choose animals with the necessary characteristics, capable of training and effective work in therapy. This is why canister therapy is not limited to certain breeds. On the contrary, even purebred dogs can become excellent therapists if they meet certain requirements.
A key aspect of canister therapy is that it does not require significant financial outlays like other types of therapy, such as dolphin therapy or hippotherapy (horseback riding therapy – ed.), which are often only available to the affluent in large cities. Dogs as therapists can work in any community, and canister therapy methods are successfully used even in social services or hospitals with limited funding. This makes canister therapy affordable and universal, which greatly expands the circle of people who can receive such help.
Currently, canister therapy has a scientific basis and is widely used for the rehabilitation of various categories of patients: children, the elderly, people with disabilities, addicts, and even cancer patients. In particular, this method is used to reduce the level of anxiety, tension, harmonize the mental state, stimulate the emotional sphere and develop communication skills. In addition, canister therapy helps to reduce autism, supports psychomotor development and has a positive effect on the normalization of the vegetative functions of the body.
One of the most common forms of canisterotherapy is the so-called “meeting-communication with a dog”. The main goal of this practice is to create positive contact between the patient and the dog, help overcome fears and stress, and provide emotional comfort through play and communication. This form of therapy stimulates the development of the senses and allows people to relieve tension, thereby distracting them from everyday problems.
Another direction is “learning with a dog”, which is best suited for working with children. In this case, the dog becomes a motivator for the development of the child’s intellectual and cognitive abilities. Learning is done through interactive exercises where the dog can help the child remember new words, complete tasks or simply provide emotional support. This format is actively used in many countries in the West, and in Ukraine, projects where children read aloud to dogs are also successfully used, because these “listeners” do not laugh at mistakes, but only carefully observe, creating an atmosphere of support and trust.
However, the most complex and most effective form is systemic therapy, which includes a set of exercises specially designed to achieve specific rehabilitation goals. In this case, the therapist together with the doctor or rehabilitator develops a program that takes into account the individual needs of the patient. Each session is carefully recorded and progress is assessed based on completed tasks. This allows you to increase the difficulty of the exercises over time and work on specific aspects of recovery, such as mental or physical recovery, development of communication skills, and overcoming social isolation.
An equally important part of canisterotherapy is overcoming the so-called canophobia (fear of dogs – ed.). This is the first stage from which rehabilitation begins. If the patient has this fear, before starting therapy, special measures are taken to overcome it, which is a necessary condition for further work.
In a world where contact with nature is increasingly reduced to wallpaper on a smartphone screen, canister therapy is not just relevant, but vital. People increasingly feel the lack of live communication, and animals become the bridge that connects people with the natural, carnal and sincere. This is especially true for children, who in times of stress intuitively gravitate to dogs, who can provide them with non-verbal warmth and peace. The touch of soft fur, calm breathing next to you, play or simple presence can trigger a number of physiological changes in the body: the level of anxiety decreases, the emotional state stabilizes, and a sense of security appears. Such effects have long been confirmed by dozens of scientific studies. In particular, the American Human-Animal Interaction Research Institute (HABRI) proved, that regular contact with therapy animals significantly reduces the manifestations of mental disorders, improves sleep and increases psychological stability.
Scientists from the Mars Petcare Center installed an interesting thing: dogs have a positive effect on children not only in times of anxiety or stress. Their benefits are also evident in everyday life. It was previously known that four-legged friends help children develop social skills, adapt more easily in a new environment and overcome psychological difficulties. But new research goes even further. 55 children aged 8–10 years and 54 dogs took part in the experiment. Participants just spent time together, playing and talking. During three separate visits, the researchers tested the levels of cortisol, known as the stress hormone, in the children and animals before, during and after the interaction. The results were unequivocal: cortisol levels decreased in both children and dogs, even in the absence of a stressful situation. This means that communication itself brings psychological relief to both parties and has a positive effect on the general emotional state.
The research center talks about the phenomenon of social buffering, when the presence of a “friend by your side” mitigates the physiological effects of stress. Interestingly, it doesn’t just work for humans. Dogs also respond to support in a similar way. In fact, research supports the two-way emotional attachment between humans and animals. Scientists emphasize that dogs not only help children better cope with stress, but also form a sense of security, confidence, and teach them to care and be responsible. And they also remind us that care should be mutual. They also feel, worry and need our attention.
Trust therapy: the role of dogs in the rehabilitation of Ukrainian defenders
The position of canister therapy is also being strengthened in the rehabilitation programs for the military in Ukraine. Dogs here become not just “medicine”, but a kind of bridge between the closed inner world of the fighter and the external environment. According to one of the specialists, the pilot classes showed an impressive effect: the military, who completely refused to communicate with psychologists, willingly came into contact with the four-legged ones. The classes were not therapy in the classical sense, but turned into a space where defenders who avoided talking began to open up. The dog did not ask questions, did not analyze and did not pressure. I was just there. And this was enough to remove the first layer of internal protection. A dog will not betray, deceive or deceive, which especially resonates with people who have gone through war. That is why an emotional connection with an animal often creates trust, which is difficult to establish even with a professional psychologist. After several sessions, the soldiers began to talk about themselves, about their experiences, about their pain. And this was therapy in its most vivid form.
Canister therapy is now actively used among patients with craniocerebral injuries, adaptation disorders, PTSD, amputations, acubarotraumas and other physical and “invisible” consequences of war. Often after being injured, military personnel experience reduced concentration, memory or communication problems. In response to this, they develop exercises with the participation of dogs that activate cognitive functions: memory, attention, and the ability to think logically. But most importantly, a safe environment is created where it is allowed to laugh, make mistakes, remain silent or speak without fear of being misunderstood.
For those who do not feel comfortable in a group, individual classes are introduced, where canister therapy works in tandem with tactile relaxation. When stroking the dog, the patient seems to be transported to another reality, which is less threatening to him. This contact is not just a distraction, but helps to recreate memories without a heavy emotional load. In today’s environment of war and post-traumatic experiences, canister therapy becomes a tool of trust and healing that helps soldiers not only speak, but also begin to feel again.
As you can see, canister therapy is not only able to help reduce acute psychological symptoms, but also contributes to the return to an active life. People who have lost motivation due to injury or illness, through contact with therapy dogs, begin to gradually restore household skills, return to work or study. In addition, in some cases, such therapy encourages patients to engage in physical activity, which is an important part of rehabilitation. Although canisterotherapy mostly complements the main treatment, sometimes it becomes a full-fledged alternative to classical physiotherapy, especially where other methods are too traumatic or simply do not work.
How the world is integrating dogs into healthcare systems
In many countries of the world, canister therapy has long gone beyond the scope of experimentation and has acquired the status of a fully recognized direction of rehabilitation. In the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, France, Switzerland, Poland and the Netherlands, the work of therapy dogs is part of the system of care in medical, educational and social institutions. Here the animal acts as a full participant in the therapeutic process.
In the United States, therapy dogs regularly visit hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, schools, and even disaster sites. Communicating with a dog is seen as support that helps reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. Many veterans’ hospitals employ dogs on an ongoing basis, as the body’s response to contact with an animal is often more effective than standard drug therapy. Therapy with dogs is also included in post-operative recovery programs, where the task is to reduce stress levels and maintain the patient’s motivation for motor activity.
In Europe, the approach is more structured. For example, in Germany, canister therapy is performed only by certified specialists who work in a team with veterinarians, psychologists, speech therapists, and teachers. Animals undergo serious selection, training and regular health checks. Programs with the participation of dogs are used in specialized schools, support centers for children with autism, and homes for people with dementia. Importantly, these countries have clear safety protocols and legal mechanisms to protect both patients and animals.
In France and Switzerland, canister therapy is integrated into palliative care programs. In hospices, the presence of a dog helps patients cope with fear, reduces the feeling of isolation, and sometimes even pain. Here, the animal does not heal in the classical sense, but helps the person to remain emotionally connected to the latter.
In Poland, this method is actively used in educational institutions, in particular in working with children with special educational needs. “Reading with a dog” projects have become a common practice for children’s libraries. Children with speech difficulties or shyness learn to read aloud not to a teacher, but to a dog who listens carefully and does not criticize. Such classes give an effect no worse than a speech therapy session, but are perceived much easier.
In Great Britain, canister therapy is officially used in the field of mental health. Dogs are present in institutions for people with disorders of emotional development, depression, addiction. Special charitable organizations train volunteer dogs who visit such institutions along with their handlers on a schedule.
It is interesting that all this is not at all about cute photos with dogs in hospital gowns, but about a methodology that is clearly embedded in the system of medical and social services. Where the therapist cannot reach with words, where pharmacology does not give the desired result, a dog joins the case. And, as many years of experience show, it is often he who helps to take the first step towards recovery.
In general, canister therapy opens up a huge potential for social workers. It helps not only in the treatment of physical and mental ailments, but also in solving social problems: reducing anxiety, improving the psycho-emotional state and developing positive social skills. Considering all this, canister therapy becomes an important tool of social work, helping people with various disorders to adapt to a normal life.
So what is it about these dogs that makes them so healing? Perhaps it is simply their dedication and ability to create an atmosphere of safety in which a person can recover from emotional wounds and pain. The English writer and poet Rudyard Kipling said for a reason: “Buy a puppy – and you will get the truest love in the world.” These words express not just a sentiment, but a profound observation. In the interaction between a person and a dog, something constantly seems to “turn on”: the heart beats more calmly, thoughts soften, anxiety disappears. This is not magic, but a regularity, proven by history, science and the experience of hundreds of people.
