Exercise THErapy assistant dOgs

ongoing

Previous activities and therapies carried out with children with functional diversity have shown us that the attention, concentration and motivation of children increase substantially when they do so with the help of a dog. The mental and emotional state of the children also improves thanks to these interactions. In addition to the above, it was evident that improving the health of the families with dogs would inevitably contribute to improving the health of the family dogs, not only because of the daily physical activity but also because of the bond that is strengthened between the families and their animals. We then wanted to widen the scope and create the THEO movement, promoting not only daily walks with family dogs but also exercise with dogs as a sporting/physical activity in its own right, making it a fun and healthy way to exercise regularly and thus, change the mindset of society as a whole. The main SCOPE of the THEO project is to promote physical activity with animals (mainly dogs) to enhance long lasting healthy routines that will help reduce physical and mental diseases as well as social issues such as loneliness, in a symbiotic relationship where both species will experience the benefits of exercising together. The activities include digital tools such as a videogame, e-book, webpage and dissemination through several platforms as well as in-person events, workshops and conferences, together with a strong communication and mainstreaming strategy for broader promotion to the wider public.