Measuring social synchrony and stress in the handler-dog dyad during animal-assisted activities: A pilot study

In Pirrone et al., individual preferences for physical contact with recipients were described, with some dogs more willing to initiate physical contact than others.

“Individual preferences for physical contact with recipients were described with some dogs being more willing to initiate physical contact with the recipients than others [13].”

In Pirrone et al., social synchrony occurred prior to and during AAAs, with joint attention being the most prevalent behavior.

“Social synchrony occurred prior to and during AAAs with joint attention being the most prevalent behavior.”

In Pirrone et al., heart rate was higher in dogs on working days with AAA sessions compared to control days, but values remained within the common physiological range, suggesting only minor increased arousal.

“Although heart rate was higher in dogs on working days with AAA sessions compared to control days, values remained within the common physiological range, suggesting only minor increased arousal.”

In Pirrone et al., more gaze synchrony and joint attention were found during AAA performances than prior to sessions.

“However, more gaze synchrony and joint attention were found during AAA performances than prior to sessions.”

In Pirrone et al., no differences in salivary cortisol levels were found except for individual differences between the dogs.

“No differences in salivary cortisol levels were found except for individual differences between the dogs.”

Research outcomes indicating that working salivary cortisol concentrations are similar to baseline measurements gathered on non-working days parallel previous data from Glenk et al., Ng et al. and Koda et al.

“Research outcomes indicating that working salivary cortisol concentrations are similar to baseline measurements gathered on non-working days [13,14,15,20,22] parallel previous data from Glenk et al. [25,26], Ng et al. [27] and Koda et al. [28].”

Participation in an AAI session stimulated both synchronous behaviors with the owner and socio-positive behaviors such as attention, sniffing, affiliative and playful behavior.

“Participation in an AAI session stimulated both synchronous behaviors with the owner [13] and socio-positive behaviors such as attention, sniffing, affiliative and playful behavior [17].”

Studies have found an AAI-related increase in behavioral stress, salivary cortisol, heart rate and breath rate.

“In contrast, studies have found an AAI-related increase in behavioral stress [19], salivary cortisol [21], heart rate [13,21] and breath rate [21]).”

Pirrone et al. did not reveal any synchronic patterns in the physiological reference markers heart rate or salivary cortisol.

“Although the findings by Pirrone et al. did not reveal any synchronic patterns in the physiological reference markers heart rate or salivary cortisol [13],”

New data by Clark et al. and Pirrone et al. suggest less arousal when dogs work regularly in the same environment.

“In addition, new data by Clark et al. [18] and Pirrone et al. [13] suggest less arousal when dogs work regularly in the same environment.”