A wagging tail is the latest tool for emotionally supporting Tauranga-based health improvement practitioner Nadene van Olly’s clients.

Ella, a 6-month-old mixed puppy, is tasked with relieving tension and stress and allowing for a smoother appointment with Nadene.

“She’s the pre-appointment, pre-appointment, giving cuddles and calms everything down,” Nadene said.

Ella’s gentle nature has calmed down grown men in crisis, and just having that tactile sensation can allow people to open up, she said.

“She [Ella] will come up to you. She’ll snuggle with you and will do whatever she needs to do.”

Nadene said there is still some stigma around using animals for emotional support, but the breeder specifically selected Ella as the perfect emotional support pooch.

“She’s so chilled,” Nadene said.

At the office, she presents a calm, mild demeanour, but once the pink emotional vest comes off, she becomes a “daddy’s girl”.

“The moment we arrive home, she is chewing everything, digging holes, running, and being a crazy dog,” she said.

On her days off, Ella likes to go snorkelling with the van Ollys or use her big puppy eyes to get lavish presents from Nadene’s husband.

“She blinked her eyes, and she got a swimming pool after two days.”

The healing powers of animals

Nadene believes wholly in the healing powers of animals, she said.

“It’s also part of your Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: nurturing and loving it. It’s just all those things and feeling part of the community.”

In a study by the American University of New Mexico, playing with a dog can elevate serotonin and dopamine levels, helping people relax and calm down.

“Even hardened criminals in prison have shown long-term changes in their behaviour after interacting with dogs,” the study said.

Nadene said she agrees with the study and that tactile sensation can help people open up.

“When you interact with something love and something human or an animal, you tend to want to nurture, care, to look after it.”