Animal-assisted interventions have long been recognized as supportive tools for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but few studies have directly examined the effects of dog training interventions (DTI). In this 2024 study, Yaara Polak-Passy, E. Ben-Itzchak, and D. Zachor analyzed how structured dog training stages influenced both verbal and non-verbal behaviors in autistic preschool children.
The study involved 37 autistic children (mean age 4 years 7 months) who participated in a 17-stage DTI program. Children gradually progressed from observing and interacting with a dog to taking on the role of a trainer. Researchers analyzed video recordings from the first and last sessions, focusing on both therapist-prompted and self-initiated behaviors.
Results demonstrated a significant increase in non-verbal communication, including sustained eye contact, gestures, and facial expressions. Children also gave more verbal commands to the dogs, showing stronger engagement. Therapist-prompted joint attention, question-answer interactions, and gestural responses also improved. Importantly, maladaptive behaviors such as repetitive movements and inappropriate physical contact decreased.
However, not all outcomes were uniformly positive: some children showed reduced self-initiated eye contact and less verbal sharing with the therapist after the program. The researchers also found a negative correlation between autism severity and responsiveness to therapist instructions, and a positive correlation between IQ and improvements in therapist responsiveness.
This study adds to the growing evidence that dog-assisted interventions can enhance social communication in children with autism. By tailoring structured programs to individual needs, dog training may become a valuable complementary therapy for improving both emotional regulation and social interaction.
Source: Polak-Passy, Y., Ben-Itzchak, E., & Zachor, D. (2024). Enhancing social communication behaviors in children with autism: the impact of dog training intervention on verbal and non-verbal behaviors. Frontiers in Psychology, 15. Authors: Yaara Polak-Passy, E. Ben-Itzchak, D. Zachor. Journal: Frontiers in Psychology.
