Dog Welfare in Animal-Assisted Therapy

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) with dogs provides documented benefits for human wellbeing. But the welfare of the dogs involved — and how to protect it — is an increasingly important question.

Key Facts

Over 50,000 therapy animals (primarily dogs) are registered with Pet Partners in the US
Therapy dogs visit hospitals, schools, care homes, and disaster sites
Research demonstrates benefits for humans including reduced anxiety, lower blood pressure, and improved mood
Less research examines the impact on the therapy dog's own welfare
Stress indicators in therapy dogs include lip-licking, yawning, tail-tucking, and hypervigilance
Handler training on reading dog stress signals is inconsistently included in therapy dog certification programmes

Welfare Considerations

Dogs performing therapy work are subject to frequent unfamiliar environments, strangers, and emotionally intense human contact. Studies on therapy dog stress using saliva cortisol and behavioural indicators show measurable stress responses during visits, particularly in high-stimulation environments like hospitals. Dogs cannot consent to therapy work, making their welfare entirely dependent on handler awareness of stress signals. Well-managed therapy programmes with trained handlers, clear dog choice to engage or disengage, and appropriate session lengths produce lower stress responses. Poorly managed programmes can expose dogs to cumulative stress that affects long-term welfare and may contribute to fear or aggression.

What You Can Do

Support therapy dog certification programmes that include mandatory dog stress signal training
Advocate for clear welfare standards for therapy animals including rest requirements and stress monitoring
If using therapy dog services, ask about the programme's animal welfare protocols
Learn to recognise stress signals in dogs to protect any dog in your care from sustained uncomfortable situations