A student walks into the Advocacy Center, shaken after a tough week of exams. As she sits down, Dr. Tucker — a Cardigan Welsh Corgi with a wagging tail and gentle demeanor — strolls over and rests his head on her knee, his wide eyes staring upward. Almost immediately, her tense shoulders relax and she smiles.
On Mondays and Thursdays in SAC’s Advocacy Center, Dr. Tucker assists Dr. Jennifer Grant, a psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker supervisor. The Advocacy Center provides various non-academic services for students, including personal counseling.
After completing Canine Good Citizen training in January 2023, Tucker was admitted to Texas State University, where he earned his “Dogtorate” in July, complete with cap and diploma. Tucker and his mom, Grant, completed 120 hours of training to become certified in animal-assisted counseling.
“We’ve shown in research that dogs make us produce dopamine and serotonin in our brain when we pet them, naturally reducing blood pressure and anxiety, helping us calm down and relax,” Grant told The Sundial.
Tucker helps put students at ease and fosters an environment for healing and emotional growth.
“I live in an apartment where I’m not allowed to have any pets, so interactions with Tucker are a lot more meaningful and hold a lot of value to me,” a client of Grant’s who asked not to be named, told The Sundial. “Anytime I go, his presence immediately helps my stress melt away.”
Grant said Tucker has displayed a strong sense of intuition with human emotion since he was a puppy. He can pick up on body language, behaviors and scents that people exhibit when stressed, anxious or depressed. Tucker provides emotional support and helps individuals open up to vulnerability in a new environment. He also offers a smile around the office.
“He makes a difference to our community here at SAC because it’s rare to see a dog on campus that you can actually touch,” Lauren Romprey, a work-study student who shares the building with Tucker, said. “Whenever I see him, I go play with him and his little hamburger toy.”
Tucker’s affectionate and nurturing demeanor helps Grant build trust with clients.
“He remembers people we have seen and will run to them,” Grant said. “He knows all our clients.”
Prior to sessions, Grant discusses how to respect Tucker and his needs.
“If he’s ever feeling sick, or having an off day, we let him take any time off he needs. My priority is always his safety and health,” Grant said.
Grant said if there ever comes a time when Tucker no longer enjoys the work, the staff will prioritize his retirement.
“As long as he still wants to go with me every day, and he’s excited to see clients, he’ll continue to work with me,” she said.
“People are always taking pictures of him all over campus and letting people know that he is our counselor,” Grant said. “He’s something that makes counseling so special that anybody would want to do it.”
At home, Tucker interacts with a diverse family of canines, all of them much bigger than Tucker, including a Pitbull, Great Dane Mastiff and a Mastiff. Tucker embraces his role as the gentle giant among them, displaying a big heart and playful spirit. His hobbies include playing with puzzle toys, chasing balls and jumping over objects big and small.
In return for his service and dedication, Tucker is compensated with love and “fancy” treats from Advocacy Center staff and the students he serves.
“Just like dogs give us feel-good hormones, we give the same thing to dogs when we pet them,” Grant said.
Grant said a Great Dane Mastiff mix is currently undergoing training and will soon be available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Students can schedule an appointment with Grant and Tucker by calling the SAC Advocacy Center Helpline at 210-486-1111.
