Stress research in therapy dogs reveals animals’ needs

http://www.vetmeduni.ac.at/en/infoservice/presseinformation/press-releases-2014/press-release-04-29-2014-stress-research-in-therapy-dogs-reveals-animals-needs/

04-29-2014 - Animals exert positive effects on humans. This fact has been proven scientifically and is used increasingly often for specific therapeutic purposes. Scientists at the Vetmeduni Vienna investigated how therapy dogs feel in a therapy setting and how one can create a largely stress-free situation for the animals. The current study shows that, during group therapy, dogs are not subjected to greater stress than they are during their leisure time. Prerequisites for this purpose are the voluntary involvement and self-determinism of the dogs. The results were published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior.

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