Reading Dog Kaneli Supports Student Wellbeing

Stress is a part of everyday life for many students, to a greater or lesser extent. Many students experience performance anxiety, have language-related learning difficulties, or find studying foreign languages challenging. Reading dogs encourage people to read, and their presence helps readers relax and reduce stress. Reading dog activities have been organised by the Finnish Kennel Club since 2017.

At Vaasa University of Applied Sciences, the reading dog programme will officially launch in the autumn semester of 2026 with the support of reading dog Kaneli, although activities have already been piloted during the spring of 2026. The programme is based on the voluntary work of reading dog handlers, while the Finnish Kennel Club is responsible for training the handlers and certifying the dog teams.

“The use of reading dogs has been shown to lower heart rate and reduce the release of stress hormones, and studies have found that anxiety levels can decrease by as much as 20 to 30 percent. As a result, concentration improves, and students in particular benefit from the calming, stress-reducing effects of a reading dog. A reading dog can also act as a ‘catalyst’ in social situations, helping to reduce feelings of loneliness among students,” says Hanna-Kaisa Pernaa, Director of the School of Health Care and Social Services at Vaasa University of Applied Sciences and Chair of the Student Wellbeing Working Group.

The reading dog programme is part of the student wellbeing services offered by the university and is coordinated by the School Social Worker.

“Students are offered the opportunity to spend time with the reading dog every other Wednesday. On Wednesdays, Kaneli meets with two different students,” Pernaa tells.

A Calm and Supportive Listening Companion

A reading dog is specially trained to sit calmly and listen to the reader without reacting to hesitation, mistakes, or slow reading. A typical reading session lasts 10 to 15 minutes, during which the student reads aloud to the dog in a relaxed and quiet environment. Students may also pet the dog during the session if they wish.

“The Reading Dog service is particularly beneficial for students who experience anxiety about public speaking or who face challenges with reading. More broadly, all students can benefit from Kaneli’s calming presence and positive effect on wellbeing,” explains Pernaa.

“The reading dog programme is a wonderful addition to the services that support students. I can easily imagine practising for a compulsory oral exam in Swedish or English with Kaneli. Likewise, international students could use the sessions to practise speaking Finnish with the reading dog,” reflects a third-year Business Administration student Aino-Liisa Rasku.

Holistic Mental Health Benefits

Although reading dog Kaneli has not yet officially started at VAMK, the initiative has already received a great deal of positive attention. Kaneli has visited the campus to become familiar with the environment and has participated in several practice reading sessions. During the most recent visit, a journalist from YLE Ostrobothnia was also present to observe a reading session.

According to Rasku, positive attention comes as no surprise, as reading dog activities provide students with holistic mental health benefits and help alleviate feelings of loneliness. Students who have moved to Vaasa from abroad or from other parts of Finland can ease homesickness by spending time with and petting Kaneli.

“I’ve spoken with friends who have moved here from other cities, and they are excited about the idea of dog-assisted therapy,” says Rasku.

More information about the reading dog programme is available on the Finnish Kennel Club's website.