Physiological Arousal for Companion Dogs Working With Their Owners in Animal-Assisted Activities and Animal-Assisted Therapy

TLDR

It remains unclear whether the dogs’ physiological responses reflect negative stress or positive excitement. The study examined companion dogs’ salivary cortisol responses during animal‑assisted activities and therapy. Owners collected saliva at control days and before/after sessions over three months, and samples were analyzed with an enzyme immunoassay. Cortisol rose during therapy, especially in short sessions and early‑day work, and increased with more sessions, indicating that therapeutic work was physiologically arousing for the dogs.

Abstract

Abstract This study investigated the physiological reactions of companion dogs (Canis familiaris) used in animal-assisted activities and animal-assisted therapy by measuring salivary cortisol concentrations. The dog caregivers (owners) collected saliva samples (a) at 3 control days without therapeutic work, (b) directly before and after each therapeutic session during 3 consecutive months, and (c) again at 3 control days without therapeutic work. The study used an enzyme immunoassay to analyze the samples. Cortisol concentrations were significantly higher during therapy days than on control days. Dogs working during the first half of the day produced higher cortisol concentrations after therapeutic sessions than before, whereas dogs working in the afternoon produced lower cortisol concentrations. Cortisol concentrations were higher in short sessions than in long ones and increased relative to the number of therapeutic sessions done during the sampling period. The results indicate that therapeutic work was physiologically arousing for the dogs in this study. Whether these physiological responses are indicative of potentially negative stress or of positive excitement remains an open question.