Revisiting Therapy Dog Welfare in Human Interventions

As therapy dogs become increasingly integrated into human healthcare, concerns grow around the ethical responsibility to ensure their well-being. In a comprehensive review published in Veterinary Sciences, Glenk & Foltin (2021) revisit the current state of welfare research in dogs involved in animal-assisted interventions (AAIs), building on their previous work from 2017.

The review analyses over 100 studies, highlighting both scientific advances and persisting gaps in understanding how AAIs affect therapy dogs. Recent improvements in methodology—such as measuring salivary oxytocin, breath rate, and tympanic temperature—offer more objective insights into stress and emotional state. But physiological markers alone are not enough. The authors stress the importance of environmental and social welfare factors that affect the animal’s experience: freedom of choice, novelty of environments, the fairness of interactions, relationship quality with the handler, and the dog’s individual background all play vital roles.

Ultimately, the study calls for a shift in focus: dogs should no longer be seen as passive tools in therapy, but as participants with needs, preferences, and vulnerabilities. As more institutions adopt AAIs, this review becomes a timely reminder: human benefit should not come at the cost of the animals who make it possible.