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At Oslo Airport, Lilla the dog helps calm travellers. Does it work?
Several public places are testing animals as a measure against anxiety and stress. But what does the research say?
You may have seen a small dog in an orange vest at Oslo Airport with 'pet me' written on its back.
Chances are high that it's one of Henrik Bergvin's dogs.
Some people smile as they pass by, others stop and come over to stroke the dog's fur.
For years, researchers have been studying how contact with animals affects people.
Can just a few seconds of touch and connection have a real impact on our health?
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"Many struggle with anxiety and fear of flying"
Henrik Bergvin works part-time at Oslo Airport, but a few years ago his work life was turned upside down.
After a long period of mental health challenges, he was granted disability benefits in 2021.
"I gradually reduced my work hours, became more isolated, and felt that I needed something to hold on to," he says.
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He found salvation in his dogs – all nine of them – which gave him both comfort and a routine.
In the summer of 2023, he suggested to airport management that he bring the dogs to the terminal.
The response was a clear yes.
"Many struggle with anxiety and fear of flying, and airports are often high-stress environments. I know firsthand how much my dogs have helped me, and I hoped they could do the same for others," he says.
Positive feedback
Bergvin owns nine dogs but usually brings four of them to the airport on a rotating basis.
The dogs are friendly, calm, and used to being around people.
Meeting with Science Norway, Bergvin has brought Lilla, a two-and-a-half-year-old female Shetland Sheepdog.
"The dogs have become an anchor in my life. Bringing them to work and interacting with people has given me space to breathe and recharge," he says.
Bergvin says that families with young children and nervous flyers are among those who often seek out the dogs.
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Travellers who feel anxious or simply love dogs also often stop by.
Not everyone approaches on their own. Over time, Bergvin has learned to notice those who might need it the most.
"Sometimes I walk over and ask if they'd like to pet the dog," he says. "I often see people’s mood change within just a few minutes. Just seeing a dog makes them smile."
Even the airport staff have said the dogs have a positive effect.
"In a busy work environment where everything moves fast and interactions become routine, the dogs offer something completely different," he says.
Bergvin is currently the only person in Norway using a therapy dog at an airport.
However, he notes that therapy dogs are more commonly used in hospitals and nursing homes, and several airports abroad have adopted similar programmes.
"If it were up to me, there would be a therapy dog at every single airport," he says.
What do we really know about the effects of animals?
According to Professor Deborah Wells at Queen’s University Belfast, there is considerable evidence that being around animals can have a calming effect on humans.
She has done extensive research on animal behaviour and the impact of pets on human health.
"Stroking an animal, looking directly at an animal, or simply being in a presence of an animal, can have a calming effect on humans, helping to lower blood pressure and heart rate," says Wells.
This is especially true in situations where people are feeling stressed or anxious.
"For example, one study found that women required to
perform a challenging mental arithmetic exercise were better buffered from
stress in the presence of their pet dog than the presence of a supportive
friend," she says.
The study Wells refers to was conducted by researchers in 1991 at the University at Buffalo.
Even viewing pictures and videos of animals can have a similar effect on us, according to Wells.
In one of her own studies, people who watched videos of monkeys, fish, and birds had a lower stress response than those who watched videos of humans.
The body responds within minutes
Wells points to several possible reasons why encounters with animals affect us this way.
Being around them slows heart rate and lowers blood pressure, making us feel calmer.
"It's also possible that these sorts of interaction lead to the release of endorphins and neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine," she says.
She places particular emphasis on oxytocin, often referred to as the 'love hormone.'
"Oxytocin is known to reduce stress, cortisol levels, and improve mood," she says.
But not everyone responds to animals the same way, Wells notes.
"Individual differences have a large role to play in shaping the types of health advantage that someone gains from an animal. Animal lovers typically gain more short-term health benefits than people with lower levels of interest in animals," says Wells.
Personality also appears to be a factor. In a 2024 study, Wells found that people with high levels of neuroticism tend to form stronger bonds with animals than those with lower levels of the trait.
Animal-assisted therapy shows promising results
In a systematic review published in 2024, researchers examined 16 studies on animal-assisted therapy – a treatment approach where animals are actively involved in promoting physical or mental health.
Several of the studies reported improvements in symptoms of depression and neurological disorders, and all of them noted a reduction in participants' stress and anxiety levels.
Similar findings are presented in a Norwegian master's thesis from 2025, submitted at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU).
Eight professionals with hands-on experience in dog-assisted therapy were interviewed about their insights and observations.
They shared that interactions with dogs could help reduce stress and anxiety, create a sense of safety, and make it easier for people to open up during conversations.
The research is still limited
Although there is growing evidence that animals can have a positive effect on us, Wells emphasises that research in the field is still limited.
"Most of the studies that have explored the calming effects of animals are very short-term in nature, usually collecting physiological or psychological data before and immediately after interactions with an animal," she says.
Long-term research is still lacking, and many questions remain unanswered.
"It's well recognised that more empirical research is needed to explore these interventions, with a focus on animal welfare and the longer-term impacts of animals for human health and wellbeing," she says.
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Translated by Alette Bjordal Gjellesvik
Read the Norwegian version of this article on forskning.no
References:
Allen et al. Presence of human friends and pet dogs as moderators of autonomic responses to stress in women, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1991. DOI: 10.1037//0022-3514.61.4.582
Fangen, T. N. 'Helsefremming gjennom hundeassistert behandling: Behandlernes erfaringer' (Health promotion through dog-assisted therapy: Practitioners' experiences), Master's thesis at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), 2025.
Pandey et al. The Role of Animal-Assisted Therapy in Enhancing Patients’ Well-Being: Systematic Study of the Qualitative and Quantitative Evidence, JMIRx Med, 2024. DOI: 10.2196/51787
Wells, D.L. The effect of videotapes of animals on cardiovascular responses to stress, Stress and Health, vol. 21, 2005. DOI: 10.1002/smi.1057
Wells, D.L. & Treacy, K.R. Pet attachment and owner personality, Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2024. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1406590
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