Dark and handsome, fiercely so, yet with eyes so gentle they seemed to look straight into my soul.My heart skipped a beat.He took a step back, too, almost as if he could sense my nervousness.“He does that,” said a voice from behind him. “He gives people space, lets them warm to him before he makes a move.”And that was how I first met Bud Spencer, Rottweiler by breed, therapy dog by profession.Sharanya Srinivasan, the Chennai-based psychologist Bud belongs to, knows that Rottweilers are hardly ever the first breed people think of when they imagine therapy dogs. Golden retrievers and Labradors, gentle, universally trusted, usually dominate that space. Rottweilers, with their intimidating physique and reputation as guard dogs, are more often associated with protection than emotional support. Bud shatters that stereotype.“Bud has a way of knowing what people are feeling, whether they are anxious, grieving or just emotionally overwhelmed and what may make them feel better,” says Sharanya, whose clients range from neurodivergent children to CEOs with chronic stress.“Bud’s movements are measured,” says Sharanya. “In the first session, he just observes the client calmly. But he can sense emotional shifts. His first response is usually to look up at me, as if checking whether support is needed.” There is a brief window, says Sharanya, sometimes just 60 seconds, during which a person experiencing anxiety can either spiral into panic or return to emotional balance. “I’ve found that Bud’s presence helps people move towards regulation. He simply stays close to them until breathing slows and the nervous system settles.”For people experiencing depression, Sharanya says Bud’s approach is different. He shows affection through gentle gestures, a nuzzle, resting his head on the knee, or giving what Sharanya describes as “the most delicate kisses”. “The physical affection can trigger the release of oxytocin, the hormone associated with bonding and emotional comfort.”One of Sharanya’s clients, Aarthi (name changed), says when she first began coming in for therapy, she was “petrified” of dogs. “More so when I realised she had a Rottweiler.” It took a while, but Bud now sits on — yes, on — Aarthi’s feet during her sessions.Bud isn’t introduced to every client, and interactions are structured so that both parties feel comfortable. Sharanya has a glass door between her room and Bud’s. “If a client tells me they are scared of dogs, Bud stays in the other room. He sits by the door looking in. When the client is comfortable, I let Bud in,” says Sharanya.Bud’s journey as a therapy dog began almost by accident seven years ago. At the time, Sharanya was running a school and the therapeutic centre. Bud was taken to the school as a puppy and grew up among children. “The kids loved him. Rottweilers are extremely sensitive to human emotions, but often misunderstood. They can read people, but they also need their own space.”Bud’s training has always centred on respecting boundaries, says the specialist with more than 25 years of experience. “If he steps away from someone, it means he needs distance. People are taught not to chase or touch him at that moment. It works the other way as well. He must allow people their emotional pace before connecting with them.”Portrayals in the media have contributed to the perception of the Rottweiler as a “dangerous dog”, but experts in animal-assisted interventions say training of therapy dogs is more about upbringing and temperament than breed.Clinical psychologist Minal Kavishwar, also a certified animal-assisted therapist, says aggression is not a fixed trait of Rottweilers but often the result of human behaviour, including mistreatment or poor breeding. In India, too, sporadic reports of mauling incidents have reinforced fear. In 2024, the department of animal husbandry asked states to stop issuing licences for the sale and breeding of Rottweilers.“Different breeds are good for different interventions. Dobermans, being working dogs, tend to respond well to structured tasks such as tug-of-war, obstacle courses. Some breeds prefer quiet interaction with humans,” says Minal, who founded Animal Angels Foundation (and Therapy Centre).“A Rottweiler or pit bull can be affectionate, just as a Golden Retriever can be aggressive. A friendly dog is not always a good therapy dog,” adds Akash Lonkar, who works with Animal Angels.