Pets In Play Therapy

Play is a powerful force, not only in the lives of children, but also in the natural world. Many animals have active play lives, and this is particularly true of companion animals, such as dogs and cats. Research on the human-animal bond has clearly illustrated many important benefits of this ages-old relationship, and the evidence that Animal Assisted Therapies (AAT) are beneficial for a wide range of developmental, educational, and clinical outcomes for children and adults is growing substantially.

Play Therapy with Kids & Canines book now available!
See details below and in our store.

The Playful Pooch Program is designed to provide canine-assisted play therapy services to children and families and to offer training in the use of canines in play therapy to mental health professionals. Canine-Assisted Play Therapy is a combination of the well-established fields of Animal Assisted Therapy and Play Therapy. Playful child-canine interactions are systematically used to make progress toward therapeutic goals. Substantial research has clearly demonstrated the importance of the human-animal bond as well as the value of properly trained animals for treating children with a wide range of difficulties. The Playful Pooch Program is just one part of the child’s overall treatment, but it can facilitate progress on many dimensions.
Download a brochure about the Playful Pooch Program.
Click here for more information on this program.

Pet Play Therapy (VanFleet, 2006) has been defined as “the integrated use of animals in the context of play therapy, in which appropriately-trained therapists and animals engage with children and families primarily in play interventions aimed at improving the child’s psychosocial health and the animal’s well-being. Play and playfulness are essential ingredients of the interactions and the relationship.” This section of the website covers information related to the use of animals in conjunction with play therapy. In the near future, the following features will be added:

Resources relating to this topic
Summary of a preliminary research project conducted by the Family Enhancement & Play Therapy Center on the use of animals in play therapy
Brief articles related to this topic
Others to be announced

Use the link below or click on the photo to read a recent article about canines in play therapy, written by Dr. VanFleet. The article is posted and made available here by the generous permission of the Association for Play Therapy, who published it in the March 2008 issue of the Play Therapy magazine. All rights are reserved.

The PDF is large (6.8MB), so please be patient while it downloads and do not close the browser window that opens, the article will load in that window.

VanFleet, R. (2008). What's this dog doing in my playroom? Play Therapy, 3 (1), 18-21.

Training & Using Dogs in Play Therapy
Harnessing child-canine play to enhance child and family therapy
Get more info about this training program
Visit our on-line store to register for this training program
Download the PDF brochure/registration form

Dr. VanFleet's latest book, Play Therapy for Kids & Canines: Benefits for Children's Developmental and Psychosocial Health, has just been released by Professional Resource Press. This new volume describes the integration of animal assisted therapy and play therapy, and details the use of canines in play therapy to address a wide range of child and family difficulties. For more info or to buy the book today, visit our on-line store.

Results of a study on the use of animals in play therapy are now available. Simply click the link below:
Pets in Play Therapy Preliminary Study Results

Dr. VanFleet’s new book, The Faces of Play: A Photographic Exploration of the Importance and Joys of Playfulness, is now available in our store. This full-color book displays 100 of Dr. VanFleet’s photographic images that explore the world of play. Text descriptions and quotations about the nature and importance of play are illustrated by images of animals (wild and domestic) and humans (children and adults) in a wide range of play activities. This spiral-bound volume printed on matte photographic paper is a useful and enjoyable tool for educating professionals, parents, and the public about the value of play. Great for the waiting room! Children love it, too! Book sections include: Introduction; Solitary, Sensory, & Object Play; Social Play; Dress-up and Imaginary Play; and Cross-Species Play.

If you are unfamiliar with Animal Assisted Therapy, you will find this information about Dr. Chandler's book useful. This is an excellent volume on the field! --RV

Download a PowerPoint slide about the book.

This section is a work-in-progress. It will feature information useful for training dogs to work in play therapy with children and families. Click on the links below to read short articles on a variety of topics. Stay tuned for more installments…

Basic Training and Socialization
Kirrie’s Doggie Dictionary