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Abandonment of Dogs and Cats: Public Opinions as Population Management Indicators
Contributor(s):: Baquero, Oswaldo Santos, Chiozzotto, Evelyn Nestori, Garcia, Rita de Cassia Maria, Amaku, Marcos, Ferreira, Fernando
This study involved characterizing public opinions on selected issues related to the abandonment of dogs and cats in Votorantim, São Paulo, Brazil. This goal was achieved by applying multiple correspondence analysis to answers recorded in questionnaires of a population-based survey. The results...
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The Effects of Dogs on Learning: A Meta-Analysis
Contributor(s):: Reilly, Katie M., Adesope, Olusola O., Erdman, Phyllis
Integrating dogs into learning environments is becoming more prevalent as growing evidence demonstrates positive benefits of dogs on human functioning. To date, there is no known quantitative review of research that specifically investigates the impacts of dogs within school/classroom...
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Effects of Human–Dog Interactions on Salivary Oxytocin Concentrations and Heart Rate Variability: A Four-Condition Cross-Over Trial
Contributor(s):: Powell, Lauren, Edwards, Kate M., Michael, Scott, McGreevy, Paul, Bauman, Adrian, Guastella, Adam J., Drayton, Bradley, Stamatakis, Emmanuel
Dog ownership is often advocated for its potential benefits to human health, with changes to oxytocin and autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity proposed as possible underlying mechanisms. The aims of the current study were to a) examine the effect of two common types of human–dog interactions...
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Characteristics of Student– Dog Interaction during a Meet-and-Greet Activity in a University-Based Animal Visitation Program
Contributor(s):: Pendry, Patricia, Kuzara, Stephanie, Gee, Nancy R.
The use of university-based Animal Visitation Programs (AVPs)—programs aimed at reducing student stress through human–animal interaction (HAI)—has increased. Implementation has expanded despite our limited understanding about program effects on student and animal wellbeing. Moreover, little is...
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Veterans and Shelter Dogs: Examining the Impact of a Dog-Walking Intervention on Physiological and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms
Contributor(s):: Krause-Parello, Cheryl A., Friedmann, Erika, Blanchard, Kelly, Payton, Megan, Gee, Nancy R.
When military veterans return from service many are in a state of reintegration from military to civilian life, a transition that can be difficult and stressful. Recent literature supports the use of human–animal interactions to reduce stress. To date there have been few studies that examine the...
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A Scoping Review of the Health and Social Benefits of Dog Ownership for People Who Have Chronic Pain
Contributor(s):: Carr, Eloise C. J., Norris, Jill M., Hayden, K. Alix, Pater, Rianne, Wallace, Jean E.
Chronic pain is a significant cause of morbidity and disability globally. One potential strategy for the self-management of chronic pain is interacting with companion animals; more specifically, dogs. While studies of dog ownership suggest social, psychological, and health benefits to humans, the...
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The Responsible Dog Owner: The Construction of Responsibility
Contributor(s):: Westgarth, Carri, Christley, Robert M., Marvin, Garry, Perkins, Elizabeth
Policy and campaigning messages related to dog ownership and welfare center on the concept of responsible ownership. However, the perspectives and experiences of pet owners and how they perceive and perform their responsibilities has not been studied in depth. This qualitative study used...
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A Longitudinal Study of Decision Making in the Process of Acquiring a Dog
Contributor(s):: Vink, Lonneke M., Dijkstra, Arie, Epstude, Kai
To prevent potential problems in the relationship between people and their dogs, it is important to engage in a thoughtful decision-making process with regard to acquiring a dog. To map the most important elements in the decision-making process, a social cognitive model was applied using seven...
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Factors Affecting Turkish Dog Owners’ Breed Choices, and Their Associations with Socio-demographic and Dog-Related Variables
Contributor(s):: Ozcan, Mustafa, Ekiz, Bulent, Ozturk, Nursen, Berk, Hanife Ozlem Sertel
The aim of this study was to identify factors affecting dog owners’ breed choices at the time of acquisition and whether they were associated with socio-demographics and dog-related variables (size, temperament, function). Answers (n = 581) to a questionnaire formed the data for this study. In...
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Effects of a Dog-training Intervention on At-risk Youth
Contributor(s):: Lahav, Shlomit, Sarid, Orly, Kantor, Halit
In the past few decades, interventions that involve animals have gained support among therapists, as they encourage verbal and non-verbal expressions of emotions. Our aim was to examine the impact of a dog-training intervention on the empathic skills of at-risk youth, compared with an...
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Low-Ability Secondary School Students Show Emotional, Motivational, and Performance Benefits when Reading to a Dog Versus a Teacher
Contributor(s):: Barber, Olivia, Proops, Leanne
Some research shows that reading to a dog can positively impact both reading attainment and attitude to reading in school children; however, most research to date has focused on primary school-aged children (4–11 years). In this study we used a series of comparisons to assess the immediate...
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Young Children’s Interpretation of Dogs’ Emotions and Their Intentions to Approach Happy, Angry, and Frightened Dogs
Contributor(s):: Aldridge, Grace L., Rose, Sarah E.
The current study aimed to investigate the extent to which young children’s risk of being bitten by a dog is explained by their inability to recognize the dog’s emotion and to behave appropriately around dogs. One hundred and seventeen children, aged 4 to 7 years, were shown 15 images and 15...
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(Un)Regulated Relations: An Ethnographic Perspective of Dog Ownership on Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Contributor(s):: White, Paloma
This paper examines the regulation and management of dogs in the Mexican municipality of Isla Mujeres. It shows how dogs, on Isla Mujeres, are managed under a neoliberal framework of a decentralized government which relies on the personal responsibility of citizens and the outsourcing of...
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An Exploratory Study of Human–Dog Co-sleeping Using Actigraphy: Do Dogs Disrupt Their Owner’s Sleep?
Contributor(s):: Smith, Bradley P., Browne, Matthew, Mack, Jessica, Kontou, Thomas G.
This exploratory study aimed to contribute to the limited research on human–animal co-sleeping by investigating the extent to which human sleep is disturbed by co-sleeping with a dog. Five female Australian dog owners and their dogs were fitted with activity monitors for seven nights. Raw...
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An Examination of Adult Women’s Sleep Quality and Sleep Routines in Relation to Pet Ownership and Bedsharing
Contributor(s):: Hoffman, Christy L., Stutz, Kaylee, Vasilopoulos, Terrie
People in many parts of the world commonly share their beds not only with human partners but also with dogs and cats. Self-report and actigraphy data have shown that sleeping with an adult human partner has both positive and negative impacts on human sleep, but there has been little exploration...
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Self-disclosure with Dogs: Dog Owners’ and Non-dog Owners’ Willingness to Disclose Emotional Topics
Contributor(s):: Evans-Wilday, Aislinn S., Hall, Sophie S., Hogue, Todd E., Mills, Daniel S.
Many owners talk to their pets about a wide range of issues, but there is very little research that has considered the content of this, or its impact on owner wellbeing. Verbal disclosure brings a range of potential health benefits, yet a number of factors may prevent individuals from confiding...
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Two Sides of the City: Dog-keeping Practices in Russian Urban Areas
Contributor(s):: Bekova, Saule, Makenov, Marat
This article examines dog–owner relations and dog ownership in Omsk, Russia. We describe typical dog-keeping practices and reveal how diverse urban environments can influence these practices. A two-stage survey was conducted in 2014 to determine the numbers and management of dogs owned. In total,...
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Narrating the First Dogs: Canine Agency in the First Contacts with Indigenous Peoples in the Brazilian Amazon
Contributor(s):: Velden, Felipe Vander
Narratives addressing the presence of European domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) in the encounters between Indians and non-Indians in the conquest of the Central and South American lowlands often portray those animals as terrible and bloodthirsty weapons. From the settlers’ perspective, dogs were...
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Normalization, Social Bonding, and Emotional Support— A Dog’s Effect within a Prison Workshop for Women
Contributor(s):: Minke, Linda Kjaer
A fundamental tenet of the Danish Prison System is the principle of normalization, meaning that prisons are organized in such a way that the conditions within the walls more or less resemble the conditions outside them. When prison conditions differ as little as possible from normal daily life on...
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Role of 4-H Dog Programs in Life Skills Development
Contributor(s):: Ellsworth, Lindsay Madden, Keen, Heidi A., Mills, Paulette E., Newman, Jerry, Martin, François, Coffey, Todd, Newberry, Ruth C.
Stress management, resilience, learning-to-learn, self-esteem, and empathy are life skills that play a pivotal role in the psychosocial development of youth who are prepared to manage everyday challenges, and are caring toward people and animals. We hypothesized that 4-H dog club membership is...
