The DOI matches its Crossref record; 12 of the 12 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Physiological Arousal for Companion Dogs Working With Their Owners in Animal-Assisted Activities and Animal-Assisted Therapy
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.
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“Additionally, the handler and the dog will live together to ensure that the handler adequately identifies and interprets the body language of the dogs during the sessions, reducing the possibility of suffering from stress, which may be experienced during AAT sessions [67,68].”
From Effects of dog-assisted therapy in adolescents with eating disorders: A study protocol for a pilot controlled trial (2021) · cites this paper as [67]
In the citing paper
“Research shows that therapy dogs can experience stress or burnout if not properly managed, which may reduce the therapy’s effectiveness and negatively impact animal welfare [39–41].”
From Canine-assisted therapy in reducing stress and anxiety levels of university students: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (2025) · cites this paper as [41]
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Cites
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Animal-assisted therapy and the severely disabled child: a quantitative study
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Research works printed but not linked: 5
- Ferrara, M., Natoli, E. & Fantini, C. (2004, October). Dog welfare during animal assisted activities and animal assisted therapy. Poster presented at the 10th International Conference of the IAHAIO, Glasgow, Scotland.
- Haubenhofer D. K., 2005, Wiener Tierarztliche Monatschrift, 92, 66
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Avaliação de uma nova técnica em alergologia veterinária : testes cutâneos por picada em cães
Matias, D. (2013) · Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT)
A Glimpse at the Future of Animal-Assisted Interventions
Turner, D. (2015) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-801292-5.00028-6
Fernandes, M. E. (2020) · Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (Universidade de São Paulo) · doi:10.11606/t.10.2020.tde-12082020-083139 · Cited by 1
Análise bioética das intervenções assistidas por animais em ambiente hospitalar
Fischer, M. L., & Zanatta, A. A. (2021) · Revista da SBPH · doi:10.57167/rev-sbph.24.92 · Cited by 1
Júnior, A. W. D. O. (2023) · Amplamente Cursos e Formação Continuada eBooks · doi:10.47538/ac-2023.18-05
Júnior, A. W. D. O. (2023) · Amplamente Cursos e Formação Continuada eBooks · doi:10.47538/ac-2023.18-03
de Oliveira, R. R. S. (2023) · Amplamente Cursos e Formação Continuada eBooks · doi:10.47538/ac-2023.18-02
Novos desafios na Educação na perspectiva inclusiva da pessoa
Júnior, A. W. D. O. (2023) · Amplamente Cursos e Formação Continuada eBooks · doi:10.47538/ac-2023.18
Bezerra, L. D. S. (2023) · Amplamente Cursos e Formação Continuada eBooks · doi:10.47538/ac-2023.18-04
Editorial: Animal-Assisted Interventions
Kogan, L. R. (2024) · Animal Behaviour and Welfare Cases · doi:10.1079/abwcases.2024.0009
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Behavioral and Cortisol-Based Evaluation of Stress in Dogs During Agility Training
Macchi, E., Fiorilla, E., Lai, A., Manenti, I., Ala, U., & Ozella, L. (2026) · Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science · doi:10.1080/10888705.2026.2644847
Attention et positivisme au cœur du bien-être chez le cheval
Stomp, M. (2018) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/56fdcb9cz7191z452ezbb6cz4f48d8ff9c4b
La médiation équine : choix et gestion des animaux, relation humain-animal et bien-être
Lerch, N. (2022) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/b54a0b46z6f62z4fefzb7eaz900b646d0102
Assessing canine stress in a veterinary clinic setting: Behavioral and thermographic analysis
Pokorna, V., Voslářová, E., Bedáňová, I., Kotianová, L., & Večerek, V. (2026) · Journal of Veterinary Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2026.04.008
Vacuška, D., Vacušková, Z., Kotianová, L., Kováčová, L., Voslářová, E., & Večerek, V. (2026) · Acta Veterinaria Brno · doi:10.2754/avb202695020195
Human–Animal Therapeutic Relationships: Communication, Welfare and Interpretative Asymmetry
Grzegorzewski, W. J., Mamzer, H., & Kuchtar, M. (2026) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani16162509
Metadata
- Authors
- Haubenhofer, D. K., & Kirchengast, S.
- Affiliations
- University of Vienna (AT)
- ORCID
- Kirchengast, Sylvia
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2006-04
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 165-172
- ISSN
- 1088-8705 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-7604
- OpenAlex
- W1994738802
- Cited by
- 120
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 1.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Universität Wien
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Keywords
- pet dogs, animal-assisted therapy, animal-assisted activities, salivary cortisol, physiological arousal, canine stress, dog owners, working dogs, session duration, time of day effects
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Dogs, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Saliva, Stress, Psychological, Work
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