本研究從歷史、社會學、藝術、醫學等層面，探究狗賦予人類身心靈之療癒功能的影響力。透過文獻記載圖像的符碼解析，了解狗在人類社會中扮演的角色與定位隨著時代變遷不斷的演進，已從早期傳統的防禦功能轉化成心靈陪伴價值。這所反應的亦是現代人對親密情感之寄託的方式在轉變，如台灣學者郭慧娟表示：「社會變遷的影響，寵物在家庭中的意義產生改變。再加上城市化與家庭核心化的影響，使得寵物地位提升，成為人們情感上的寄託，有如親人和密友般的伴侶。」（郭慧娟,2014） 這份暗藏於日常互動中的依附情感，包含著生命的溫度與療癒意義，並在二十世紀時延伸至醫學的輔助性治療。動物所具有的療癒特質不僅提升生理治療的成效，也幫助人們從內心禁錮中釋放，達到內在的充實與和諧。本研究以文獻探討、質性訪談、創作實踐等方式，探索人與狗之間看似平凡飼育關係下的深度內在情感連結，並用數位插畫的方式描繪出流動在彼此間之豐厚情誼與祥和療癒。 This research explores the physical and emotional benefits dog provides to human as a companion animal by studying on the areas of history, sociology, arts and medicine. Through the literature review and the analysis of visual metaphors to comprehend the roles of dog representing in human society. Recently, dog kept primarily for people’s company rather than as a working animal. As the researcher Guo, Hui-Juan described that “Because of social change, the roles of pets play in today’s family are improved and become the meaning of spiritual support just like family members and close friends.”（Guo,Hui-Juan,2014） The human-canine bond relationship under daily interaction means a close life connection and a strong healing power, which also has been used in animal-assisted therapy since twentieth century. Many researches show therapeutic animals not only improve the result of physical treatment but also help patients get released from inner sorrow and stress to feel satisfied and secure. This study intends to explore the deep inner connection and the healing love between human and dog by literature review, qualitative interview and artistic creation.
