Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) are increasingly used to support individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this context, psychiatric service dogs are trained with an emotional service profile, enabling them to detect and respond to their handler’s anxiety. However, less is known about whether this handler-focused training influences handlers’ ability to interpret their dog’s own emotional states.
Fisher & MacKay (2020) compared 23 psychiatric service dog handlers (PsySD) with 16 search-and-rescue handlers (SARK9) who worked with dogs without emotional service training. Participants completed empathy scales, viewed standardized videos of canine affective states, and reported on their relationships with their dogs.
The results showed no correlation between handler empathy and accuracy in identifying canine emotional states. While a higher proportion of SARK9 handlers recognized stress-related body language compared to PsySD handlers, the difference was not statistically significant. Both groups faced challenges detecting subtle cues of stress or affect, suggesting a broader gap in canine emotional literacy among handlers.
The study highlights an opportunity to improve welfare outcomes by enhancing training programs to better educate handlers in reading canine body language. Recognizing emotional signals is vital not only for the wellbeing of dogs but also for the long-term success of service dog teams.
Source: Fisher, C., & MacKay, J. R. D. (2020). Recognition of Canine Emotion by the Psychiatric Service Dog Owner-Handler. Published November 2, 2020.
