Animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) have become increasingly popular as therapeutic strategies for improving human health. However, the focus has largely remained on human benefits, while the welfare of therapy dogs is less thoroughly addressed. In their review, Lisa Glenk and Stefanie Foltin (2021) examine scientific findings from 2017–2021 that revisit the welfare of therapy dogs participating in AAIs.
The authors note that new methodologies such as salivary oxytocin measurement, breath rate monitoring, and tympanic membrane temperature offer promising tools for evaluating stress and welfare in dogs. These indicators provide valuable insight but also come with methodological limitations, making multi-factorial assessment essential.
The review further highlights social and environmental influences on therapy dog wellbeing. Key factors include freedom of choice during interactions, opportunities for exploration, the fairness of treatment (inequity aversion), individual personality development, cumulative working experience, and especially the relationship with the handler and the handler’s skill level. Each of these elements can profoundly affect how therapy dogs perceive and cope with their working environment.
With the growing global demand for therapy dogs, the authors stress that welfare should remain a central consideration. Identifying stress-inducing contexts, establishing protective protocols, and ensuring handler education are crucial to sustaining both the effectiveness of AAIs and the wellbeing of the dogs involved.
This updated review concludes that safeguarding therapy dog welfare must be a continuous, evidence-based process, ensuring that these animals benefit from their roles alongside the humans they support.
Source: Glenk, L., & Foltin, S. (2021). Therapy Dog Welfare Revisited: A Review of the Literature. Veterinary Sciences, 8. Authors: Lisa Glenk, Stefanie Foltin. Journal: Veterinary Sciences.
