Skip to main content

Introduction to Therapy Dogs

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Therapy Dogs in Cancer Care
  • 1837 Accesses

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Therapy Dogs International website, http://tdi-dog.org. Accessed September 2011.

  2. Zamir T. The moral basis of animal-assisted therapy. Soc Animals. 2006;14:179–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Snyder M, Lindquist R. Complementary & alternative therapies in nursing. 6th ed. Springer: New York; 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Miller TW. Handbook of stressful transitions across the lifespan. Springer: New York; 2010.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  5. Johnson RA, Meadows RL, Haubner JS, Sevedge K. Human–animal interaction. A complementary/alternative medical (CAM) intervention for cancer patients. Am Behav Sci. 2003;47:55–69.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Havener L, Gentes L, Thaler B, et al. The effects of a companion animal on distress in children undergoing dental procedures. Issues Compr Pediatr Nurs. 2001;24:137–52.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Barak Y, Savorai O, Mavashey S, Beni A. Animal-assisted therapy for elderly schizophrenic patients: a one-year controlled trial. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2001;9:439–42.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Barker SB, Pandurangi AK, Best AM. Effects of animal-assisted therapy on patients’ anxiety, fear, and depression before ECT. J ECT. 2003;19:38–44.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Cole KM, Gawlinski A, Steers N, Kotlerman J. Animal-assisted therapy in patients hospitalized with heart failure. Am J Crit Care. 2007;16:575–85.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Barak Y, Savorai O, Mavashey S, Beni A. Animal-assisted therapy for elderly schizophrenic patients: a one-year controlled trial. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2011;9:439–42.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Braun C, Stangler T, Narveson J, Pettingell S. Animal-assisted therapy as a pain relief intervention for children. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2009;15:105–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Lasa SM, Ferriero G, Brigatti E, Valero R, Franchignoni F. Animal-assisted interventions in internal and rehabilitation medicine: a review of the recent literature. Panminerva Med. 2011;53:129–36.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Dimitrijević I. Animal-assisted therapy – a new trend in the treatment of children and adults. Psychiatr Danub. 2009;21:236–41.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. LeFebvre SL, Golab GC, Christensen E, et al. Guidelines for animal-assisted interventions in health care facilities. Am J Infect Control. 2008;36:78–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Edwards NE, Beck AM. Animal-assisted therapy and nutrition in Alzheimer’s disease. West J Nurs Res. 2002;24:697–712.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Phear DN. A study of animal companionship in a day hospice. Palliat Med. 1996;10:336–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Arata S, Momozawa Y, Takeuchi Y, Mori Y. Important behavioral traits for predicting guide dog qualification. J Vet Med Sci. 2010;72:539–45.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Ensminger JJ. Service and Therapy Dogs in American Society. Science, Law and the Evolution of Canine Caregivers. Charles C. Thomas, Publisher, Springfield: IL. 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Martin F, Farnum J. Animal-assisted therapy for children with pervasive developmental disorders. West J Nurs Res. 2002;24:657–70.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Macauley BL. Animal-assisted therapy for persons with aphasia: a pilot study. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2006;43: 357–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Chu CI, Liu CY, Sun CT, Lin J. The effect of animal-assisted activity on inpatients with schizophrenia. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2009;47:42–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Niewiadomska M, Radziejewska M, Horodnicka-Józwa A, Petriczko E. Agility in treatment of children with type 1 diabetes–pilot study. Pediatr Endocrinol Diabetes Metab. 2010;16:89–93.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Mossello E, Ridolfi A, Mello AM, et al. Animal-assisted activity and emotional status of patients with Alzheimer’s disease in day care. Int Psychogeriatr. 2011;1:1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Abate SV, Zucconi M, Boxer BA. Impact of canine-assisted ambulation on hospitalized chronic heart failure patients’ ambulation outcomes and satisfaction: a pilot study. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2011;26:224–30.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Rossetti J, King C. Use of animal-assisted therapy with psychiatric patients. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2010;48:44–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Matuszek S. Animal-facilitated therapy in various patient populations: systematic literature review. Holist Nurs Pract. 2010;24:187–203.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Muñoz Lasa S, Ferriero G, Brigatti E, Valero R, Franchiognoni F. Animal-assisted interventions in internal and rehabilitation medicine: a review of the recent literature. Panminerva Med. 2011;53:129–36.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Sobo EJ, Eng B, Kassity-Krich N. Canine visitation (pet) therapy: pilot data on decreases in child pain perception. J Holist Nurs. 2006;24:51–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Kawamura N, Niiyama M, Niiyama H. Animal-assisted activity: experiences of institutionalized Japanese older adults. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2009;47:41–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Coakley AB, Mahoney EK. Creating a therapeutic and healing environment with a pet therapy program. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2009;15:141–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. McNair D, Lorr M, Droppleman L. Profile of mood states manual. North Tonawanda, NY: Multi-Health Systems, Inc.; 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Souter MA, Miller MD. Do animal-assisted activities effectively treat depression? a meta-analysis. Anthrozoös. 2007;20:167–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Folse EB. Animal-assisted therapy and depression in adult college students. Anthrozoös. 1994;7:188–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Barker SB, Dawson KS. The effects of animal-assisted therapy on anxiety ratings of hospitalized psychiatric patients. Psychiatr Serv. 1998;49:797–801.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Lust E, Ryan-Haddad A, Coover K, Snell J. Measuring clinical outcomes of animal-assisted therapy: impact on resident medication usage. Consult Pharm. 2007;22: 580–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Marcus DA, Bernstein CD, Constantin JM, Kunkel FA, Breuer P, Hanlon RB. Animal-assisted therapy at an outpatient pain management clinic. Pain Med. 2012;13:45–57.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Farrar JY, Portenoy RK, Berlin JA, Kinman JL, Strom BL. Defining the clinically important difference in pain outcome measures. Pain. 2000;88:287–94.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Farrar JT, Young JP, LaMoreaux L, Werth JL, Poole RM. Clinical importance of changes in chronic pain intensity measured on an 11-point numerical pain rating scale. Pain. 2001;94:149–58.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Ostelo RW, Deyo RA, Stratford P, et al. Interpreting change scores for pain and functional status in low back pain: towards international consensus regarding minimal important change. Spine. 2008;33:90–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Salaffi F, Stancati A, Silvestri CA, Ciapetti A, Grassi W. Minimal clinically important changes in chronic ­musculoskeletal pain intensity measured on a numerical rating scale. Eur J Pain. 2004;8:283–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Zelman DC, Hoffman DL, Seifeldin R, Dukes EM. Development of a metric for a day of manageable pain control: derivation of pain severity cut-points for low back pain and osteoarthritis. Pain. 2003;106: 35–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Banks MR, Banks WA. The effects of animal-assisted therapy on loneliness in an elderly population in long-term care facilities. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2002;57:M428–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Harding R, Epiphaniou E, Hamilton D, et al. What are the perceived needs and challenges of informal caregivers in home cancer palliative care? Qualitative data to construct a feasible psycho-educational intervention. Support Care Cancer, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Soothill K, Morris SM, Harman JC, et al. Informal carers of cancer patients: what are their unmet psychosocial needs? Health Soc Care Community. 2001;9:464–75.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Soothill K, Morris SM, Thomas C, et al. The universal, situational, and personal needs of cancer patients and their main carers. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2003;7: 5–16.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Matsuo K, Kato N, Kato T. Decreased cerebral haemodynamic response to cognitive and physiological tasks in mood disorders as shown by near-infrared spectroscopy. Psychol Med. 2002;32:1029–37.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Chamberlain SR, Sahakain BJ. The neuropsychology of mood disorders. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2006;8: 458–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Iwahashi K, Fukamauchi F, Aoki J, et al. A daycare program of animal assisted therapy for affective disorder patients during psychotropic drug therapy: evaluation of the relaxation effect by fNIRS (functional near-infrared spectroscopy). Nihon Shinkei Seishin Yakuriqaku Zasshi. 2010;30:129–34.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Odendaal JJ, Meintjes RA. Neurophysiological correlates of affiliative behaviour between humans and dogs. Vet J. 2003;165:296–301.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Barker SB, Knisely JS, McCain NL, Best AM. Measuring stress and immune response in healthcare professionals following interaction with a therapy dog: a pilot study. Psychol Rep. 2005;96:713–29.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Charnetski CJ, Riggers S, Brennan FX. Effect of petting a dog on immune system function. Psychol Rep. 2004;95:1087–91.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Templer DI, Salter CA, Dickey S, Baldwin R, Veleber DM. The construction of a pet attitude scale. Psychol Rec. 1981;31:343–8.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Kanamori M, Suzuki M, Yamamoto K, Kanda M, et al. A day care program and evaluation of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) for the elderly with senile dementia. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2001;16:234–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Haubenhofer DK, Kirchengast S. Physiological arousal for companion dogs working with their owners in animal-assisted activities and animal-assisted therapy. J Appl Anim Welf Sci. 2006;9:165–72.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Marcus, D.A. (2012). Introduction to Therapy Dogs. In: Therapy Dogs in Cancer Care. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3378-1_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3378-1_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-3377-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-3378-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics