Robot dog helps out at nursing home

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It's not a real dog, but it's the next best thing for residents at a nursing home in Bournemouth, England.

Biscuit is a robotic dog. He helps residents at the Templeman House Residential and Dementia Care Home interact with others and share memories they may have forgotten.

The management at the home says that Biscuit is the perfect fit for their residents. He doesn't need walking or feeding, but he still feels like a beloved man's best friend.

And Biscuit is helping the residents – many of whom have dementia – spark conversations with their care providers. 

"Even though it's robotic and it's a toy, it's not seen as that by our residents; it's seen as a dog," Home Manager Deanna Barnes said.

Barnes said that the residents love Biscuit.

"Our residents love him, absolutely love him. And he's very addictive – you just keep stroking him even though he's not a real dog," she said.

Biscuit came on the market more than 10 years ago.

While there's plenty of life left in the old dog, the staff says he'll eventually stop working.

They're not only looking for his successor, but they're hoping to work with developers to design the next breed of robotic therapy dog.