The role of stress of therapy dog handlers in animal-assisted therapy

We investigated the relationship between dog handlers perceived stress and therapy dog team performance in a dog assisted therapy program to improve emotional management in adolescents. The objectives were to analyze the relationship between dog handlers perceived stress and (a) patients evaluation of the handlers management, (b) patients evaluation of the dogs performance, and (c) stress identified in therapy dogs by their handlers. Nine handlers reported perceived stress in themselves and their dogs, and participants assessed the management and performance of the team. Results showed a significant negative correlation between handlers stress and the stress they identified in their dogs, which suggests that stress during the animal-assisted therapy sessions was negatively associated with the therapy team performance, and this was also identified by participants.