As a dog trainer, one of the main things I tell people is that dogs are not robots. What I mean is that, no matter how well trained our canine companions might be, we cannot expect dogs to be perfect, and to assume otherwise sets up unrealistic expectations. My favorite thing about sharing my life with dogs is that their very essence is joyful imperfection.
They’re also (and maybe somehow because of this) good for us. Canine companionship can relieve stress, depression, anxiety, and loneliness. They also help to keep us physically active, and thus healthier both mentally and physically. Most of us have seen viral videos of the robotic dogs that scientists and the military are working to build. Some of these move like dogs and are inspired by real dogs. But they are distinctly not doglike. That said, robotic dogs are much more accessible and less like science fiction than you might think.
Electronic pets are becoming increasingly common, and no, we don’t mean the keychain Giga Pets of the 1990s (though those are making a comeback as well). Joy for All Companion Pets are “lifelike” robotic dogs (and cats) specifically designed for seniors. These programed plushies are designed to give a sense of companionship and comfort to senior citizens, especially those living with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Companion Pet dogs cost around $130 and can be purchased online through retailers like Amazon and pharmacies like CVS. Unlike a traditional stuffed animal, the Companion Pets are interactive—they have a heartbeat and respond to human touch and interaction.
Ted Fischer, co-founder and CEO of Ageless Innovation, the company behind the Joy for All Companion Pets, explained that its robotic dogs were “developed with extensive input from older adults” and designed “to look, sound, and feel just like real puppies—without the responsibilities of pet ownership.” Fischer says that “older adults want realism, interactive two-way companionship, and pets.”
Essentially, they were designed to be lots of people’s idea of what a perfect dog would be. Joy for All’s Companion Pet comes in two varieties: the Golden Pup and the newly announced (but not yet for sale) Freckled Pup. Fischer notes that these robotic dogs “provide a similar type of warmth and love that real pets offer their owners, all without the mess or time-consuming responsibilities.” They have doglike fur, make realistic puppy sounds, and are somewhat responsive to people near them. “The Companion Pet pup reacts to the sound of its owner’s voice and responds to their touch, much like a real puppy. This two-way interaction helps create a personally rich experience that can bring fun, joy, and friendship to older adults,” explained Fischer.
That interaction is key to fostering the relationship between seniors and their Companion Pets. Fischer notes that many people name their robotic dogs and form attachments to them. Beyond that, the relationship each person forms with their robotic dog is unique to their cognitive abilities and their caretaking team. Some treat the dogs as though they are real puppies; others understand them to be robotic stuffed animals. Either way, they seem to benefit from the companionship of these robotic dogs.
In pre-Covid times, trained and certified therapy dogs visited hospitals and nursing homes, along with their owner/handlers, to entertain and emotionally support patients and residents. Significant research has shown that these therapy dogs benefit the people they visit in a variety of ways.
Beyond being a link to the outside world and providing a welcome distraction from a medical environment, petting dogs can support mental stimulation that assists Alzheimer’s patients with recalling memories. Therapy dogs can also serve as ice breakers between doctors, medical staff, and patients. They can also help patients relax during physical therapy exercises and offer gentle motivation. Some patients can even develop similar kinds of relationships and benefits from engaging with robotic dogs.
“Several clinical studies conducted by AARP, UnitedHealthcare, and other clinicians have proven that the Joy for All Companion Pets can help to enhance the well-being and quality of life of lonely or isolated individuals and those living with dementia and other forms of cognitive decline, by providing a level of interaction and comfort from a lifelike companion,” Fischer wrote in an email.
This sentiment was echoed by Greg Olsen, director of the New York State Office for the Aging, who said that in his program many people who receive the robotic pets “cry when they receive them—they love them like a real pet—and their families and caregivers have said they see a huge difference in their loved one’s mood.” The Office for the Aging began a 12-county pilot program in 2018 by giving the robotic pets to isolated seniors. Case managers working with the individuals administered a social- and emotional-isolation scale assessment prior to the “adoption” of the pets, and then at three, six, and 12 months after receiving them. Olsen says they “found that 70 percent of pet adoptees indicated a reduction or significant reduction in feeling isolated after one year.”
The Companion Pets are also being used by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, which began giving the robot dogs to socially isolated seniors living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. The agency initially purchased 375 of the robotic pets, but the feedback from program participants and their caregivers was so positive that it ordered a total of 1,800 to keep up with demand.
The Florida agency also noted that demand has increased because of Covid-19: “The companion pets are certainly enjoyed by families of those living with Alzheimer’s disease or any form of dementia, but the pets have also been increasingly popular with many older residents who find comfort in them during this time of physical distancing.” Covid has led to feelings of loneliness and social isolation for everyone, but it’s particularly challenging for seniors in assisted-living facilities.
For their own protection, most of these individuals have been in strict isolation for months, with physical visits by friends and loved ones suspended. Olsen says that in New York, he too has seen an increased need for the robotic dogs. “When the pandemic hit, we purchased an additional 1,100 pets and distributed them statewide to help isolated older adults. We have also helped other New York state agencies like the Office of Mental Health and the Division of Veterans’ Services.”
As a dog trainer, I worry that a rise in consumer use of robotic dogs will foster unrealistic expectations about what real dogs are like. Perhaps not for the recipients of the Companion Pets, but for their families and caregivers. First-time pet owners too often want their actual dogs to behave like glorified plush toys. And because robotic dogs don’t need food, don’t need physical or mental exercise, and don’t need to go to the vet, they may reinforce the idea that “good” dogs are seen and not heard.
Personally I’d rather have no dog than a robotic approximation—but then again, I like the neediness, unpredictability, and naughtiness of real dogs, and I’m in a position to handle the responsibilities of a real, living, thriving companion. It’s impossible to deny that robotic dogs like the Companion Pet are having real and tangible benefits in the lives of people who may need them the most, which perhaps make them more doglike than I’m giving them credit for. Have a lonely senior in your life? They just might benefit from a robotic canine sidekick.
