Robot dog or visiting therapy dog
Robotic pups and visiting therapy dogs compared for aged care in 2026: availability, cost, hygiene, allergies, research and how homes use both.
Many aged care homes welcome visiting dogs, brought in by volunteers or animal-assisted therapy services. Residents who grew up with dogs often light up when one walks in. A robotic pup is a different thing. It stays in the home and is there when a visiting dog is not. This page sets out how the two differ so a home can decide where each fits.
How are they different day to day?
| Robotic pup | Visiting therapy dog | |
|---|---|---|
| When it is there | Any time, day or night | At scheduled visits |
| Handler needed | No | Yes, the dog comes with its handler |
| Ongoing cost | Batteries or charging | Set by the visiting program; some are volunteer-run |
| Up-front cost | $269 to $315 for a companion pup | Set by the visiting program |
| Allergies and fear of dogs | No animal hair or dander | Residents with allergies or a fear of dogs need to be considered |
| Hygiene | Coat wiped to the home’s cleaning routine | Handler and home follow the visiting program’s rules |
| Can stay with one resident | Yes | No, the visit ends |
What does the research say?
Most controlled research on robotic animals uses the PARO seal. An Australian trial across 28 Queensland aged care facilities found PARO reduced agitation compared with usual care on video observation and improved engagement. A 2025 review of 15 trials reported less agitation and anxiety with robot interventions and no effect on memory. One smaller study using a robotic dog or cat over 6 weeks found lower depression and loneliness scores. Those findings are about robots, and they do not tell us a pup is better or worse than a live dog visit.
When does a robotic pup make more sense?
- A resident is unsettled in the evening or at night, when no visitor is present.
- A resident wants a dog of their own to keep in their room.
- A resident’s health means contact with a live animal needs caution.
- The home has no regular dog visiting program yet.
When is a live visit worth arranging?
Live visits give residents the smell, movement and personality of a real animal, and the handler brings conversation too. For a resident who can still walk a short way with a dog or remember its name from week to week, a visit may mean more than any robot.
Using both
A home can keep robotic pups on site and still welcome a visiting dog. Staff can use the visit to see which residents respond to dogs, then offer those residents a pup between visits. See robotic dogs for aged care homes for planning numbers.