WATERLOO - With all the smiles and laughter, you'd never guess the room was filled with stressed university students in the middle of exams.

And all it takes to dispel the academic anxiety? Two playful pups.

Canine companions Annie and Jager offer much-needed levity at the doggy drop-in hosted at the Waterloo Lutheran Seminary this week and next while students struggle through winter exams.

"As soon as you walk in, you smile because they're so cute," said third-year Wilfrid Laurier University business student Sarah MacNeil.

She popped in Wednesday around lunchtime with her roommate Jessica Drag for a study break, their worries melting away with just a touch of Annie and Jager's curly fur.

"You forget what you were even studying," MacNeil joked.

This is the third time for the puppy therapy sessions run by Kristine Lund, assistant principal and director of spiritual care and psychotherapy programs at the seminary that's part of the Laurier campus.

Lund was surprised by the dogs' profound effect on students, who she asks to fill out a survey on their visit as part of her research.

"They would come in tired, discouraged, frustrated, anxious and they would leave excited, calm, focused and happy," Lund said.

She expected to see only a small change in how students were feeling, but their moods changed entirely.

"When they leave, they feel better."

And all that stress relief comes just at the cost of dog treats, said Lund, who herself enjoys seeing the students smile and laugh around the playful duo.

"They'll laugh at their antics," she said.

On Wednesday, about 20 students sat in a circle on the floor of the chapel to hang out with Lund's dog Annie, a Portuguese water dog, and Jager, a soft-coated Wheaten terrier.

The students laughed when the pair playfully wrestled and choruses of "ahhs" erupted when the well-trained dogs high-fived for treats. Many pictures were snapped of the dogs as they made their way around the circle, stopping for lots of treats and attention.

Lund said some students stay for a few minutes, others for an hour. Some come every day.

Second-year computer science student Danny Smith stopped in before his first exam Wednesday afternoon. The cheerful atmosphere was what pleased Smith.

"It's not so much about the dogs, it's seeing everyone else here smiling and chatting," he said. "It's making a lot of students happier."

MacNeil and Drag, third-year science student at the University of Waterloo, said the doggy drop-in really did offer relief from exam anxiety.

"Everyone's kind of happy, uplifted. So it's a good atmosphere," Drag said.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

She has a toy poodle back at her family home, and was happy to be around dogs again.

"It's kind of like a home away from home having dogs here," Drag said.

The pair was surprised by the steady stream of students coming into the chapel, immediately greeted by a tail-wagging dog.

"They're just so carefree. They don't care about anything but food," MacNeil said.