Why Your Dog Might Just Be The Unofficial Therapist You Never Knew You Had
- Perez Therapy, LLC
- Dec 19, 2025
- 3 min read
By: Mark Moran, LSW
Why Your Dog Might Just Be The Unofficial Therapist You Never Knew You Had
I’ve been lucky to share my life with two amazing dogs: Marge (a Pittbull/mastiff mix) and Zedd (a wiener-dog). They don’t have a therapy dog certification, but in the way they pull me into the present moment when anxiety or depression try to drag me into the future or past, they absolutely act like co-therapists. I want to talk about how pets, especially dogs, really can support our mental health and how you can consciously incorporate them into your healing journey.
Interacting with pets isn’t just “nice”, it has measurable physiological effects. For example, petting an animal has been shown to raise oxytocin (the “bonding” hormone) and lower cortisol (the stress hormone). According to University of Washington researchers (1): “Pets can decrease stress and lower blood pressure… When dogs and humans interact, both get a boost in oxytocin.”Animal-assisted therapy studies also report benefits like reduced anxiety, improved mood, and less feelings of loneliness. A study of dog owners found that 69% reported their dog improved their emotional well-being just by being there.
When I’m lying awake ruminating on something I did (or didn’t) do five years ago, or worrying about what will happen next week, one of them will nudge my hand or demand to go out. Marge with her giant head and gentle giant energy kind of silently says: Hey human – breathe, walk, rhythm, leash clip, step outside. Zedd, the wiener-dog, will do his enthusiastic little bark and tug on the toy that says: We. Are. Here.
That immediate sensory contact, the leash in my hand, the crisp air around us, the dog’s panting, the grass beneath my shoes, snaps me out of the loop of “what ifs” and “if onlys”. Science supports this: pets create an “external focus for attention” which lowers sympathetic nervous system arousal (the fight/flight mode).
Ways to consciously use your pet in your healing journey
Mindful walk: Instead of just walking the dog on autopilot, take 5 minutes during the walk to notice the leash’s texture, your feet on the ground, your dog’s ears flicking in the breeze. Let your dog lead you into the moment.
Grounding pet moment: If anxiety hits, get down to pet level. Feel the coat of your dog, hear the breath, let the rhythm of petting them remind you that you are safe right now.
Gratitude ritual: At the end of the day, say (silently or out loud) one thing your dog did that you appreciated (e.g., Zedd brought the toy, Marge stayed by my side). This builds the habit of noticing positive interaction rather than being pulled by negative loops.
Use structure for mood: Animals need routine. Feeding, walking, grooming them can anchor your day, which is powerful when depression makes time feel fuzzy.
Pets are not a stand-alone cure for mental health conditions, and they require responsibility. If you’re overwhelmed (like severely depressed) and caring for a pet becomes too much, the relationship can add stress.
Marge and Zedd don’t judge. They don’t ask why I’m anxious; they simply are. They pull me back to the present when my mind runs away. And in that way, they share in my healing journey. If you have a pet (or are thinking of getting one), I encourage you to experiment: treat them not just as a companion but as a part of your wellness toolkit. Notice the moments of being brought here, not there.
Because at the end of the day, the past is done and the future is not yet here — but your dog is right now, with you.
Right as Rain by UW Medicine. (n.d.). Pet therapy. UW Medicine.Uwmedicinerightasrain.uwmedicine.org/mind/stress/pet-therapy