Effects of exercise and human contact on animal welfare in a dog shelter
Abstract
The aim of the study is to investigate the reduction of stress in dogs in municipal shelters through easy-to-implement activities, ie, 25-minute sessions of exercise and human contact, that do not require a significant investment in terms of funding, staff or time. The results demonstrate that the dogs taking part in these sessions have lower salivary cortisol levels (F=121.42; P<0.05) and achieve better scores on a behaviour test (t(17)=4.27; P=0.001). It can therefore be affirmed that the exercise and human contact protocol proposed in the present study diminishes stress and improves the welfare of dogs housed in shelters.
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Dogs are sociable animals and require regular social interaction and exercise.
“They are sociable animals and require regular social interaction and exercise [206,207,208].”
From Ethical Concerns about Fashionable Dog Breeding (2024) · cites this paper as [207]
Previous research in shelter dogs has demonstrated reductions in behavioral and physiological indicators of negative affect through provisions of positive human-animal interactions.
“While research to date has not specifically explored ways to reduce excessive arousal, previous research in shelter dogs has demonstrated reductions in behavioral (e.g., vocalizations, panting) and physiological (e.g., heart rate and cortisol) indicators of negative affect through provisions of positive human-animal interactions, such as petting sessions or physical exercise (4, 27–33).”
From Combined enrichment and pharmaceutical intervention reduces excessive arousal in shelter dogs in a randomized controlled trial (2026) · cites this paper as [32]
Cites
Intraclass correlations: Uses in assessing rater reliability.
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Assessment of positive welfare: a review
Yeates, J. W., & Main, D. C. J. (2008) · The Veterinary Journal · doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.05.009 · Cited by 504 · see citing works
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Holland, K. E., Owczarczak-Garstecka, S. C., Anderson, K. L., Casey, R. A., Christley, R. M., Harris, L., McMillan, K. M., Mead, R., Murray, J. K., Samet, L., et al. (2021) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani11010240 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Holdgate, M. R., Meehan, C. L., Hogan, J. N., Miller, L. J., Soltis, J., Andrews, J., & Shepherdson, D. J. (2016) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0150331 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
Ethical Concerns about Fashionable Dog Breeding
Menor-Campos, D. J. (2024) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani14050756 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Self-citationCisneros, A., O’Hanley, K., Moody, C. M., & Stellato, A. C. (2026) · Frontiers in Veterinary Science · doi:10.3389/fvets.2026.1931203
- Authors
- Menor‐Campos, D. J., Molleda‐Carbonell, J. M., & López‐Rodríguez, R.
- Affiliations
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Rabanales University Campus Córdoba E‐14014 Spain
- Venue
- Veterinary Record
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2011-10
- Volume
- 169
- Issue
- 15
- Pages
- 388-388
- ISSN
- 0042-4900 (ISSN-L)
- 2042-7670
- OpenAlex
- W2124572010
- Cited by
- 98
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 7.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Veterinary Record (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Veterinary Orthopedics and Neurology
- Keywords
- dog welfare, animal shelters, canine stress, physical activity, human contact, salivary cortisol, behavioral assessment
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Animal Welfare, Behavior, Animal, Human-Animal Bond, Dogs, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Physical Conditioning, Animal, Saliva, Stress, Psychological
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