Human-canine relationships date back an estimated 15,000-40,000 years with the domestication of the wolf (Serpell, 2021). Today, dogs hold many different roles within society. In addition to dogs being companions, they also have multiple working roles including assistance, protection, and detection (Hall et al., 2021). Many individuals view their canine companions as family members, as seen in a 2023 Pew Research Center survey of American households; this survey found that 62% of respondents have pets, 73% of which have at least one dog, with 97% of pet owners overall viewing those pets as family members. In addition to receiving companionship, safety, and physical support, interacting with dogs has been shown to have a number of social, emotional, and health benefits for humans, including reduction of stress, depression, and anxiety, and increases in happiness, motivation, emotional regulation, learning, cognition, and social functioning (Gee et al., 2021). Service dogs, also known as assistance dogs, in particular, serve a dual-purpose role as a working dog and a companion dog, providing support through their trained assistance tasks, as well as companionship and affection (Gee et al., 2021). Considering the long-standing, intertwined nature of human-canine relationships and the dependence on one another for health, safety, companionship, and support, it is crucial to understand the effects of human-canine interactions.
In the HAPI lab within the Center for the Human-Animal Bond, our research uses a biopsychosocial approach to understanding human-canine interactions, to support the development of practical and effective interventions for the benefit of both humans and dogs. Of particular interest are the effects and outcomes of pairing assistance dogs with veterans and civilians diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The HAPI lab partners with a number of service dog organizations to understand these real-life impacts. Additionally, the HAPI lab studies the effects of interacting with dogs in a number of scenarios, including in educational facilities, within families, and in therapeutic settings.
Serpell, J. A. (2021). Commensalism or cross-species adoption? A critical review of theories of wolf domestication. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8, 662370.
Hall, N. J., Johnston, A. M., Bray, E. E., Otto, C. M., MacLean, E. L., & Udell, M. A. (2021). Working dog training for the twenty-first century. Frontiers in veterinary science, 8, 646022.
Pew Research Center. (2023, July 7). About half of U.S. pet owners say their pets are as much a part of their family as a human member. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/07/07/about-half-us-of-pet-owners-say-their-pets-are-as-much-a-part-of-their-family-as-a-human-member/
Gee, N. R., Rodriguez, K. E., Fine, A. H., & Trammell, J. P. (2021). Dogs Supporting Human Health and Well-Being: A Biopsychosocial Approach. Frontiers in veterinary science, 8, 630465. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.630465
Nieforth, L.O., Guerin, N.A., Stehli, A., Schuck, S., Yi, K.L., O’Haire, M.E.. (2024). Observation of human-animal interaction for research (OHAIRE) behavior coding in a randomized control trial of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a canine-assisted intervention. Frontiers in Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1327380
Nieforth, L.O., Rodriguez, K.E., Zhuang, R., Miller, E.A., Sabbaghi, A., Schwichtenberg, A.J., Granger, D.A. & O’Haire, M.E. (2024). The cortisol awakening response in a three-month clinical trial of service dogs for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50626-y
Nieforth, L.O., Leighton, S.C., Schwichtenberg, A.J., MacDermid Wadsworth, S. & O’Haire,
M.E. (2023). A preliminary analysis of psychiatric service dog placements and sleep patterns of partners of veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. Anthrozoos. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2023.2268979.
Leighton, S. C., Rodriguez, K. E., Nieforth, L. O., O’Haire, M. E. (2023). Service dogs for autistic children and family system functioning: a constant comparative analysis. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14:1210095. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1210095
Leighton, S.L., Nieforth, L.O. & O’Haire, M.E. (2022). Assistance dogs for military veterans with PTSD: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-synthesis. PLoS One. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274960
Nieforth, L.O., Miller, E., MacDermid Wadsworth, & O’Haire, M.E. (2022). The effects of a service dog on the wellbeing of veteran families. European Journal of Psychotraumatology. doi: 10.1080/20008198.2022.2062997
Nieforth, L.O., Abdul Wahab,A.H., Sabbaghi, A.H., MacDermid Wadsworth, S., Foti, D. & O’Haire, M.E. (2022). Quantifying the emotional experiences of partners of veterans with PTSD service dogs using ecological momentary assessment. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101590
Nieforth, L.O., Craig, E.A., MacDermid Wadsworth, S., Behmer, V. & O’Haire, M.E. (2023). PTSD service dogs foster resilience among veterans and military families. Current Psychology. doi:10.1007/s12144-021-01990-3
Nieforth, L.O., Rodriguez, K.E. & O’Haire, M.E. (2021). Expectations versus experiences of veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder service dogs: A conventional content analysis. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. doi:10.1037/tra0001021
