Debrecen4U
November 10, 2025
Therapy dog helps students and teachers ease exam and deadline stress
At the Faculty of Agriculture, Food Science, and Environmental Management of the University of Debrecen, Doppler, the golden retriever therapy dog, helps students and teachers overcome the stress caused by exams and deadlines with his calm presence.
The aim of the initiative is for Doppler’s presence to support mental health and concentration and to contribute to the creation of a new educational environment.
“University life is an exciting and eventful time, but exams, deadlines, and the constant pressure to perform often pose a challenge for both students and teachers. That is why a special idea was launched at the Faculty of Agriculture, Food Science, and Environmental Management of the University of Debrecen. In this unique initiative, Doppler, the student therapy dog with its owner and faculty member of the Faculty of Agriculture, Márta Horváth, will participate in classes and exams with the support of the “SANSZ” Foundation (“The Love of Four-legged Friends Helps” Foundation). The goal is for the presence of the therapy dog to help reduce stress, support student performance, and establish a new educational environment at the faculty, where, in addition to knowledge, mental health support is also given a prominent role,” Szilvia Veres, Scientific Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Food Science, and Environmental Management of the University of Debrecen, told hirek.unideb.hu.
For Márta Horváth, a research assistant at the Institute of Animal Science, Biotechnology and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, her interest in animal-assisted work came from personal experience.
“In Doppler’s presence, I am calmer, more focused, and more motivated during my work. In the past, I have often experienced that it is often difficult for students and teachers to maintain mental balance while continuously performing. According to numerous studies, the presence of a therapy dog relieves tension—reduces cortisol levels, stabilizes blood pressure, slows down the pulse, and helps the body relax—and has a positive effect on mood, improves concentration, and strengthens motivation during learning. All this is especially important during everyday stress and exam periods. This is where the idea came from to join a dog in education, and the cooperation with the “SANSZ” Foundation gave the opportunity to realize this idea with professional background and support,” explained Márta Horváth.
Doppler, the soon-to-be 3-year-old golden retriever student therapy dog, is already eager to get to know the students and teachers. He is currently undergoing training: he is getting to know the university environment, the atmosphere of classes, and exam situations. After completing the training, they will participate in the life of the university as an official therapy couple with their owner.
“Doppler’s task is to help create an attentive, open, and supportive atmosphere in which learning becomes a real experience with its balanced, calm presence. This initiative thus serves the well-being of students and employees and the implementation of a new, modern educational model at the same time,” added Márta Horváth.
“SANSZ” Foundation works nationwide to use the special sensitivity and love of dogs for developmental and therapeutic purposes. The foundation trains assistance and therapy dogs and works with them to hold classes for children, people with disabilities, the elderly, and disadvantaged communities. Their goal is to make the special relationship between dogs and people a value and resource in society.
Márta Horváth, Doppler’s owner, encourages visitors to the Böszörményi Road campus to feel free to pet and get to know Doppler.
Source:dehir.hu | Photo credit: Pixabay (Illustration)
