# Therapeutic Canine Robots Tombot Robotics Designed a Realistic Puppy for Dementia Therapy By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2019-03-06 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dementia-therapy References: [prnewswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-next-frontier-in-robotic-therapy-tombot-robotics-introduces-a-more-realistic-and-affordable-animal-companion-for-dementia-therapy-300807215.html) & [tombot](https://www.tombot.com/Puppies) While there are countless robot puppy toys that help to provide people of all ages with entertainment and companionship, Tombot Robotics is introducing a highly realistic dog for dementia therapy. For this project, Tombot Robotics collaborated with the legendary [Hollywood](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hollywoodthemed-games) animatronics experts at Jim Henson's Creature Shop. As a result, the robotic animal—modeled after a Labrador puppy—is not only hyper-realistic in terms of its looks but also the physical feel and behaviors and a pet. Research has shown that those who suffer from dementia can see a decrease in the behavioral and psychological symptoms of the disease by forming an emotional attachment. The newly developed [robotic animal companion](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lemmy-ces-2025) is being introduced to the world on [Kickstarter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/onorato-ai) for its ability to foster a sense of control, connectedness and purpose in seniors. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.3/10 - Popularity: 65% | Activity: 85% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Health](https://www.trendhunter.com/health) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Realistic Robotic Companions:** The development of highly realistic robotic companions opens up opportunities for therapeutic applications in various fields. - **Dementia Therapy:** Using robotic animals for dementia therapy provides an innovative approach to addressing behavioral and psychological symptoms of the disease. - **Emotional Attachment Technology:** The advancement of technology that fosters emotional attachment, such as robotic companions, presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the healthcare and eldercare industries. ### Who This Affects Most - **Healthcare:** The introduction of realistic robotic companions for therapy purposes can revolutionize how healthcare professionals provide support and treatment to patients. - **Eldercare:** Robotic animals for dementia therapy have the potential to improve the quality of life for seniors, making the eldercare industry more effective and efficient. - **Robotics:** The collaboration between Tombot Robotics and Jim Henson's Creature Shop demonstrates the potential for disruptive innovation in the robotics industry, particularly in the development of lifelike robotic animals. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Robotic Canine Companions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/metadog.md) - [Reactive Robotic Dog Companions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oro-robot.md) - [Adorable Cyber-Pet Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cyberpet.md) - [Interactive Companionship Robotic Dogs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ecovacs-lilmilo.md) - [Emotion Recognition Robot Pets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kakaloom.md) - [Autonomous Support Robot Cabinets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/labrador-retriever.md) - [AI-Powered Robotic Dogs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/laika.md) - [Automated Pet Companion Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/enor-e1.md) - [Robotic Pet Companions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/guliguli-smart-companion.md)