Therapy Dog Helps Young Girl Overcome Her Fear of Dogs
Photo Credit: @marciacharliethetherapyfamily/Instagram

Therapy Dog Helps Young Girl Overcome Her Fear of Dogs

A young girl named Lucy had a severe phobia of animals until a special canine stepped in to help. That is what a sweet clip shared by @marciacharliethetherapyfamily is all about. It shows the moment she finally faced her deepest fear. In the video, a certified therapy dog named Ollie lay completely flat on the floor to make himself look as non-threatening as possible. Lucy had actually never touched a pup in her entire life. But this beautiful encounter completely changed how she views four-legged friends.

Therapy dog allows young girl space and time to pet him

The session started with Lucy sitting cautiously behind the large pup. She looked incredibly timid. And she even flinched a little whenever the dog shifted his head. But Ollie seemed to sense her panic. This Golden Retriever breed is famous for being incredibly gentle and patient around anxious people, and makes for an excellent therapy dog. So he chose to stay completely still on the carpet.

Ollie’s handler told Lucy not to be afraid because the sweet boy already liked her. Moreover, she had to explain to the young girl, who was a first-timer, how to pet the therapy dog step by step. Lucy slowly leaned forward and started using very soft, unsure strokes on his back. And she kept checking his face to see how he was feeling. But Ollie just kept relaxing on the floor, giving her space.

His owner described the breakthrough in the post caption, calling it a “truly magical moment for a young girl.” Pretty soon, Lucy completely leaned into the petting as her confidence improved. Others in the room watched the milestone with big smiles.

The video of the therapy dog working his magic grabbed over 1.9k likes in less than 24 hours. One viewer commented that Goldens are just pure sunshine with legs. Another person added that they hope Lucy finds great joy with dogs going forward. Ollie definitely deserves an extra-large handful of treats for being the absolute best boy on the clock.

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