Irresistible Charm of Companion Dogs: Daqian Nanshi Hospital Integrates Them into Psychiatric Rehabilitation Therapy
Miaoli County's Daqian Healthcare System Nanshi Hospital has incorporated companion dogs into its psychiatric occupational therapy group courses. Trained poodles, "Mantou" and "Chashao," help patients with depression, social anxiety, and cognitive disorders alleviate anxiety and rebuild social confidence, significantly boosting treatment attendance and participation.
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- 📰 Published: June 9, 2026 at 12:34
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(Central News Agency, reporter Guan Ruiping, Miaoli County, 9th) Miaoli County's Daqian Healthcare System Nanshi Hospital announced the official integration of "companion dogs" into its psychiatric occupational therapy group courses. These professionally trained dogs assist patients suffering from depression, social anxiety disorder, and cognitive impairments in alleviating anxiety and rebuilding social confidence.
Dr. He Renqi, Director of the Psychiatry Department at Daqian Nanshi Hospital, stated in a press release today that many patients long troubled by emotional disorders often feel exhausted by "communicating with people." Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is now well-researched internationally; when patients interact with companion dogs, it can induce significant positive physiological changes.
Petting a dog prompts the brain to secrete oxytocin, commonly known as the "cuddle hormone," which helps build trust and feelings of happiness, while simultaneously reducing the concentration of the stress hormone cortisol, thereby stabilizing the autonomic nervous system.
The two companion dogs currently serving in Nanshi Hospital's psychiatric rehabilitation therapy group courses are both poodles: a brown one named "Mantou" (Steamed Bun) and a white one named "Chashao" (Char Siu). Mantou was formerly a stray dog, taken in and professionally trained by a therapist at the hospital. Together with Chashao, they have become a source of warm, adorable energy in the cold hospital clinic.
"Companion dogs are an excellent therapeutic medium," pointed out Tang Weiyu, Head of the Occupational Therapy Department at Nanshi Hospital. The therapist team designs activities such as "brushing fur," "interactive commands," and "leading walks," allowing patients to naturally practice hand-eye coordination and verbal expression in a pressure-free state.
He noted that many patients who were previously uninterested in rehabilitation courses now look forward to meeting the companion dogs, leading to a significant increase in attendance and active participation. This patient-centered design successfully transforms what was once tedious training into a positive life motivation for patients to get up and go out.
The hospital indicated that a patient with depression, Xiao An (a pseudonym), had confined herself at home for six months, refusing contact with the outside world. However, after an 8-week course with Mantou, Xiao An progressed from initially sitting and observing to actively reaching out to pet and interact affectionately with the dog.
Dr. Hong Guoxiang, Superintendent of Nanshi Hospital, emphasized that the treatment goal of psychiatry is not only to stabilize the physiological symptoms of the disease but, more importantly, to help patients rebuild their connection with society. The hospital has currently implemented companion dog-assisted therapy in psychiatric wards and day-care programs. It plans to continue refining related courses, using the purest resonance between animals and humans to make medical care more than just medication and tests, establishing the "furry team" as an indispensable warm partner in the psychiatric medical team. (Editor: Lin Shuhui) 1150609
Dr. He Renqi, Director of the Psychiatry Department at Daqian Nanshi Hospital, stated in a press release today that many patients long troubled by emotional disorders often feel exhausted by "communicating with people." Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is now well-researched internationally; when patients interact with companion dogs, it can induce significant positive physiological changes.
Petting a dog prompts the brain to secrete oxytocin, commonly known as the "cuddle hormone," which helps build trust and feelings of happiness, while simultaneously reducing the concentration of the stress hormone cortisol, thereby stabilizing the autonomic nervous system.
The two companion dogs currently serving in Nanshi Hospital's psychiatric rehabilitation therapy group courses are both poodles: a brown one named "Mantou" (Steamed Bun) and a white one named "Chashao" (Char Siu). Mantou was formerly a stray dog, taken in and professionally trained by a therapist at the hospital. Together with Chashao, they have become a source of warm, adorable energy in the cold hospital clinic.
"Companion dogs are an excellent therapeutic medium," pointed out Tang Weiyu, Head of the Occupational Therapy Department at Nanshi Hospital. The therapist team designs activities such as "brushing fur," "interactive commands," and "leading walks," allowing patients to naturally practice hand-eye coordination and verbal expression in a pressure-free state.
He noted that many patients who were previously uninterested in rehabilitation courses now look forward to meeting the companion dogs, leading to a significant increase in attendance and active participation. This patient-centered design successfully transforms what was once tedious training into a positive life motivation for patients to get up and go out.
The hospital indicated that a patient with depression, Xiao An (a pseudonym), had confined herself at home for six months, refusing contact with the outside world. However, after an 8-week course with Mantou, Xiao An progressed from initially sitting and observing to actively reaching out to pet and interact affectionately with the dog.
Dr. Hong Guoxiang, Superintendent of Nanshi Hospital, emphasized that the treatment goal of psychiatry is not only to stabilize the physiological symptoms of the disease but, more importantly, to help patients rebuild their connection with society. The hospital has currently implemented companion dog-assisted therapy in psychiatric wards and day-care programs. It plans to continue refining related courses, using the purest resonance between animals and humans to make medical care more than just medication and tests, establishing the "furry team" as an indispensable warm partner in the psychiatric medical team. (Editor: Lin Shuhui) 1150609
FAQ
What is the goal of Nanshi Hospital's companion dog program?
To help patients with depression and social anxiety alleviate anxiety and rebuild social connections through interaction with dogs.
What are the names and breeds of the therapy dogs?
They are two poodles named 'Mantou' (brown) and 'Chashao' (white). Mantou was formerly a stray dog.
What specific outcomes has the program achieved?
Significant increases in patient attendance and participation, including a case where a patient who was housebound for six months began actively interacting with the dog after an 8-week program.