Beyond the Badge: Why K9 Wellness Matters as Much as Human Wellness
When we think about first responder wellness, our minds often go straight to the brave men and women who serve our communities. But standing beside many of them is another hero — one with four legs, a wagging tail, and a drive to serve. These working dogs carry the same burdens of stress and trauma, yet their wellness is often overlooked. At Bishop’s Mission, we believe healing must happen on both ends of the leash.
The Hidden Strain on Working Dogs
Studies show that 5–10% of military working dogs display PTSD-like symptoms after traumatic experiences. These can include hypervigilance, refusal to work, avoidance, or even aggression. Just like their handlers, these dogs need support systems to decompress, recover, and thrive — because when they struggle, the partnership struggles.
While formal research on PTSD in law enforcement and working dogs is still limited, the studies that do exist suggest a clear pattern: dogs exposed to repeated high-stress or traumatic situations can develop long-term behavioral changes. Reports on military working dogs deployed to Iraq noted increased symptoms consistent with trauma, and welfare reviews highlight that canine mental health is an emerging but under-studied field. Studies also show that handler stress and the handler-dog relationship strongly influence canine behavior, and that disaster response dogs often display dysfunctional behaviors after intense deployments. Meanwhile, research on service dogs for veterans emphasizes the healing power these animals bring to humans, but underscores the lack of attention to the dogs’ own well-being. Together, these findings point to a critical gap: while we know trauma can affect working dogs, there is no consistent diagnostic standard, and far too little focus on their mental health. This is why proactive wellness, monitoring, and peer support for both responders and their K9s is so essential.
Bishop in the beginning, training for his mission.
Research on therapy dog stress shows encouraging but mixed results. Some studies report that therapy dogs cortisol and oxytocin levels remain stable. In one study of nine therapy dog teams working in hospital settings, researchers collected saliva samples before and after therapy visits. They found a significant correlation between a handler’s perception of their dog’s stress and elevated post-visit cortisol in the dogs. In other words, when handlers reported their dogs seemed stressed, those dogs’ cortisol levels tended to be higher after the session.
This supports the idea that even dogs trained for service or therapy can experience physiologic stress — especially in overstimulating environments — and underscores why monitoring wellness and providing recovery care is important in programs. Still, other research notes that stress can vary depending on the dog’s experience level, environment, and workload. Taken together, the evidence suggests that while therapy dogs often handle their jobs well, long-term wellness monitoring is essential to prevent chronic stress and burnout — a key focus of Bishop’s Mission’s K9 Peer Support Program.
Peer Support Isn’t Just for Humans
Peer support has been a game-changer for first responders, creating space to talk openly about stress, trauma, and healing. At Bishop’s Mission, we’re extending this proven model to include K9s. Our K9 Peer Support Program isn’t about therapy dogs for humans alone — it’s about recognizing and supporting the department dogs themselves.
What K9 Wellness Looks Like
Wellness for these dogs goes far beyond a pat on the head. It includes:
Nutrition & Hydration to fuel their demanding work.
Grooming & Coat Care to prevent overheating and keep them mission-ready.
Stress Recognition & Decompression strategies after tough calls.
Emergency Veterinary Fund Support so service dog handlers aren’t left alone when crisis strikes.
Healing Together
When responders and their K9s are supported as a team, they’re stronger, more resilient, and better prepared to serve. That’s why Bishop’s Mission is committed to providing resources, education, and funding to departments who want to build out their own K9 peer support and wellness programs.
If you believe no one fights alone — not even our K9 heroes — join us in supporting the Bishop’s Mission K9 Peer Support Program. Together, we can make sure both responders and their dogs get the care they deserve.
