Lincoln counselors have an unlikely colleague: 1.5-year-old puppy Boris. Boris, a therapy dog in training, provides emotional and mental health support.

Counselor Teresa Hytowitz said she adopted Boris after her therapist suggested that a dog could improve her mood during a difficult time. When Hytowitz saw a cute picture of Boris staring at a wall while his littermates played, she knew he was the one.

Boris has grown from a shy puppy to a therapy dog in training.

Hytowitz believes therapy dogs are important, especially in schools. She said simply petting an animal can reduce cortisol levels that cause stress.

Hytowitz said that after she adopted Boris, he helped her return to working as a counselor at a new school after a leave to take care of her mom. She thinks dogs can also help students feel more at ease when visiting the counselors.

“Sometimes, when you just need a room to cry or you don’t want to talk to anybody, talking to a dog can help [with] that,” said Hytowitz.

Boris is still in the process of training.

Becoming a therapy dog is a long and expensive process. It takes many months of working with their handler and completing specialized classes.

Stephanie Fernandes, a Lincoln parent who completed the licensing process for her dog Ivy, believes successful training requires spending time with your animal to form a strong bond with them.

“[Dogs] learn a lot just from daily life,” said Fernandes. “They’re very in tune with
the rhythm.”

Bringing a dog to school also has its challenges. For Hytowitz, it can be hard to find time to take care of Boris and support her over 300 students. Sometimes she must step away from work to take Boris outside.

Similarly, when Fernandes visits Lincoln with Ivy, she highlights that Ivy is often distracted by food.

“I tell some kids who have their sandwiches or they’re eating breakfast to watch out, [she’ll] steal your food,” said Fernandes.

Both Hytowitz and Fernandes love bringing their dogs to Lincoln. You can find Boris in Hytowitz’s office in the counseling center and occasionally Ivy in the first-floor commons.