A robotic dog and a real dog cheered up nursing home residents equally during a study by Saint Louis (Missouri) University, according to the Associated Press.
Do you think a robotic dog can really offer the same benefits as a real dog? I mean, really? Even the Jetsons had a real dog, but they did have Rosie, the robotic maid.
The fact that a robotic dog offered the same benefits as a real dog to nursing home residents surprised me at first. Then I thought about humans and how we attach our emotions to our pets even though they are not capable of experiencing emotions on the same level as us. For example, we think a dog understands when we tell her about our relationship issues just because she listens, looks sad and puts her head in our lap. Really, the dog is just thinking, maybe if I look cute she’ll feed me.
Why would it be any different to attach human emotions to a robot? I know I loved my stuffed animals when I was a kid. And remember Tom Hanks in the movie “Castaway”? He loved and talked to a volleyball he named Wilson.
As for dogs, one of the best things about them is cuddling. A person living in a senior living facility would probably agree. At the same time, companionship is companionship. People love pet lizards, frogs and snakes, and they aren’t cuddly.
Nursing homes can be very lonely places, places where just seeing a dog can change a person’s life or make her day a good one. Ideally, it would be great if more nursing homes could have dogs and cats living right at the facility. There are certainly enough homeless pets that would love the daily interaction with seniors. But some facilities can’t afford the time or extra staffing it would take to properly care for an animal, especially when funds are lacking for the adequate care of the people living there. If a robot can help in some small way to make someone laugh or lessen the loneliness, then I’m all for it.
What do you think?
See the AP story here.
You know, I’ve actually seen one of these robotic dogs in person. There was a presentation at the vet school at CSU when I worked there.
I was amazed at how easy it was to get drawn in by this “machine”. Even in a short presentation, I felt myself getting attached like I would have with a real dog.
I think even interaction with a robot dog is a good thing! They aren’t very cuddly though!
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Ive read studys that people in nursing homes most miss the sensation of touch. A dog easily provides that.
I work in a residential unit, and due to the nature of our clients and shift work, it is far easier to have staff bring a dog to work (trained and socialised) then maintaining a dog at the unit, (kinder to the dog too)although one of our other unit has a live in dog….
At work we have animated/automated (not sure which) anyway, fake newborn babies… You know they are fake, but put one in your arms and you start rocking it, watching you support its neck…its amazing how life like they are & how quickly you respond to them as if they were…
So I imagine a robotic dog would be much the same…i would not like to see them replace dogs, i would like to see more dogs trained and volunteers to take dogs into the homes..
i think in the short term, it is understandable that both would attract attention and give cheer( a novelty maybe?) , but in the long term i think the company of a dog is incomparable to that of a machine, no matter how well animated
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I can’t imagine being a dog lover and living in a nursing home where there are no dogs. I want to volunteer and bring Ace to visit some of these people.
I don’t think the company of a dog can be replaced by a robot, but I think a robot can provide company.
4 of my dogs are certified therapy dogs. I would take the boys in regularly to the nursing home that was close to my old house and they loved seeing them. It was a therapeutic for the staff as it was the residents and their families.
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