Therapy dogs: 'Perfect medicine' to help students survive finals

By Jen Christensen, CNN

Updated 1628 GMT (0028 HKT) December 19, 2013

CanineAssistants, an Alpharetta, Georgia-based nonprofit group, brings therapy dogs-in-training to help Emory University students with finals stress.
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Therapy dogs help students de-stress – CanineAssistants, an Alpharetta, Georgia-based nonprofit group, brings therapy dogs-in-training to help Emory University students with finals stress.
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An Emory student crashes while studying for finals. Studies show excessive stress can impair memory.
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Therapy dogs help students de-stress – An Emory student crashes while studying for finals. Studies show excessive stress can impair memory.
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To become certified, the dogs must master 90 commands and maintain a total sense of calm.
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Therapy dogs help students de-stress – To become certified, the dogs must master 90 commands and maintain a total sense of calm.
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Counselors say finals stress often causes a kind of tunnel vision. The dogs help students step out of themselves and relax.
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Therapy dogs help students de-stress – Counselors say finals stress often causes a kind of tunnel vision. The dogs help students step out of themselves and relax.
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Even after just a couple minutes, students visibly relax with the dogs.
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Therapy dogs help students de-stress – Even after just a couple minutes, students visibly relax with the dogs.
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Studies show canine interaction increases a human's level of oxytocin, a hormone that reduces anxiety and blood pressure.
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Therapy dogs help students de-stress – Studies show canine interaction increases a human's level of oxytocin, a hormone that reduces anxiety and blood pressure.
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