Well-Being Indicators in Autistic Children and Therapy Dogs During a Group Intervention: A Pilot Study
Simple Summary
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Participants: Children and Dogs
2.2. Sample Collection and Cortisol—Oxytocin Measurement in Children and Dogs
2.3. AAS Setting and Structure of the Canine-Assisted Program
- Opening sequence—“High Five” theme song.
- Presentation of the photograph of the four dogs.
- Live presentation of the dogs and first approach.
- Closing sequence—saying goodbye to the dogs, hand cleaning wipes, and theme song.
- Opening sequence—“High Five” theme song.
- Presentation of the activity—showing the photograph of the dogs involved.
- Activity 1 (focus on hyperactivity management)—the subject is asked to follow simple instructions to play with dogs (grab the ball, hold the ball counting to three, throw the ball to the dog, wait for the dog to return it, take the ball).
- Activity 2 (focus on sensory sphere activation)—the subject is asked to touch the dog in specific parts of the body (where is the tail? touch the ear, etc.).
- Activity 3 (focus on hyperactivity management)—the subject is asked to follow simple instructions to feed the dog (take the bowl, put the kibble in the bowl, place the bowl on the ground without dropping it, give the command to access the food).
- Activity 4 (focus on sensory sphere activation)—the subject is asked to take care of dog through epimeletic behavior, such as petting.
- Closing sequence—saying goodbye to the dogs, hand cleaning wipes, and theme song.
- Opening sequence—“High Five” theme song.
- Presentation of the activity—showing the photograph of the dogs.
- Activity 1 (focus on sensory sphere activation)—the subject is asked to take care of dog through epimeletic behaviors, such as feeding, brushing and petting.
- Activity 2 (focus on sensory sphere activation)—the subject is asked to touch the olfactory mat and hide a food reward for dog. Then, the subject observes how the dog searches for food with its sense of smell and can stop to pet it.
- Activity 3 (focus on hyperactivity management)—the subject is asked to follow simple instructions to walk dog on a leash (grab the leash, hold it in your hands, follow the indicated direction, look at dog, you can ask to sit, return the leash).
- Activity 4 (focus on hyperactivity management)—the subject is asked to sit at the entrance of a tunnel, wait for the handler to position dog at the other entrance of the tunnel, say the command to make the dog cross the tunnel and welcome it with a food reward.
- Closing sequence—saying goodbye to the dogs, hand cleaning wipes, and theme song.
- Opening sequence—“High Five” theme song.
- Presentation of the photograph of the dogs.
- Live presentation of the dogs and final farewell.
- Closing sequence—saying goodbye to the dogs, hand cleaning wipes, and theme song.
2.4. Questionnaire About the Impact of AAS on Canines and Children
2.5. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Evaluation of Cortisol and Oxytocin Levels in Both Pets and Autistic Children During the AAS
3.2. Parental Opinions About the Impact of AAS on Autistic Children
3.3. Opinions of the Dog Handlers About the Impact of AAS on Dogs
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
6. Limitations
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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CORT Levels (ng/mL) at Different Time Points | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ID | T0-Pre | T0-Post | T45-Pre | T45-Post | T90-Pre | T90-Post |
French Bulldog (FB) | 3.46 | 0.73 | 9.53 | 499.13 | 4.69 | 50.54 |
German Shepherd (GS) | 5.96 | 43.60 | 13.39 | 9.21 | 5.95 | 6.94 |
Border Collie (BC) | 6.28 | 15.90 | 14.98 | 18.67 | 6.04 | 17.01 |
Mixed-breed (MB) | 6.76 | 6.28 | 6.07 | 3.93 | 4.56 | 22.30 |
OT levels (ng/mL) at Different Time Points | ||||||
ID | T0-Pre | T0-Post | T45-Pre | T45-Post | T90-Pre | T90-Post |
French Bulldog (FB) | 3.36 | 74.30 | 3.61 | 193.53 | 3.37 | 36.80 |
German Shepherd (GS) | 20.91 | 5.40 | 17.57 | 3.51 | 23.70 | 8.61 |
Border Collie (BC) | 10.47 | 15.68 | 5.30 | 33.00 | 4.66 | 15.84 |
Mixed-breed (MB) | 14.35 | 16.20 | 8.23 | 6.32 | 3.56 | 12.10 |
CORT Levels (ng/mL) at Different Time Points | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ID | T0-Pre | T0-Post | T45-Pre | T45-Post | T90-Pre | T90-Post |
1-AFP | 3.50 | 3.51 | 3.52 | 16.63 | 5.87 | 4.19 |
2-DSD | 197.50 | 3.51 | 3.50 | 115.68 | 26.68 | 2648.22 |
3-GR | 9.63 | 4.38 | 3.86 | 114.96 | 4.97 | 92.06 |
4-NF | 5.54 | 27.70 | 479.60 | 581.31 | 181.25 | 3409.70 |
5-PG | 69.96 | 4.31 | 3.69 | 11.33 | 1544.25 | 165.08 |
6-RS | 3.57 | 4.96 | 3.50 | 4.41 | 37,918.89 | 4.95 |
7-SJ | 23.40 | 41.72 | 3.49 | 23.91 | 5155.83 | 391.55 |
8-SD | 14.64 | 6.80 | 3.50 | 33.68 | 8.91 | 169.77 |
9-ZA | 36.54 | 112.05 | 5.66 | 4.59 | 3.91 | 1892.92 |
10-MSF | 3.60 | 18.20 | 3.61 | 26.77 | 111.50 | 201.81 |
OT Levels (ng/mL) at Different Time Points | ||||||
ID | T0-Pre | T0-Post | T45-Pre | T45-Post | T90-Pre | T90-Post |
1-AFP | 1.09 | 1.25 | 10.38 | 3.29 | 1.89 | 1.84 |
2-DSD | 62.46 | 95.14 | 1.12 | 14.11 | 8.44 | 1.87 |
3-GR | 11.02 | 21.59 | 72.05 | 44.21 | 1.86 | 1.92 |
4-NF | 10.05 | 65.64 | 111.50 | 88.40 | 211.64 | 495.70 |
5-PG | 28.77 | 20.21 | 7.58 | 1.98 | 151.46 | 2.59 |
6-RS | 14.30 | 6.64 | 4.18 | 1.96 | 29.51 | 1.92 |
7-SJ | 17.76 | 25.56 | 0.42 | 142.12 | 62.01 | 4.32 |
8-SD | 20.62 | 7.73 | 1.98 | 6.43 | 2.34 | 35.38 |
9-ZA | 21.37 | 43.28 | 8.73 | 1.93 | 1.85 | 5.69 |
10-MSF | 2.91 | 13.80 | 6.57 | 26.18 | 3.55 | 73.72 |
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Giuliano, V.O.; Sacchettino, L.; Rusu, A.S.; Ciccarelli, D.; Gazzano, V.; de Cesare, M.; Visone, M.; Mizzoni, V.; Napolitano, F.; d’Angelo, D. Well-Being Indicators in Autistic Children and Therapy Dogs During a Group Intervention: A Pilot Study. Animals 2025, 15, 2032. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15142032
Giuliano VO, Sacchettino L, Rusu AS, Ciccarelli D, Gazzano V, de Cesare M, Visone M, Mizzoni V, Napolitano F, d’Angelo D. Well-Being Indicators in Autistic Children and Therapy Dogs During a Group Intervention: A Pilot Study. Animals. 2025; 15(14):2032. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15142032
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiuliano, Viviana Orsola, Luigi Sacchettino, Alina Simona Rusu, Davide Ciccarelli, Valentina Gazzano, Martina de Cesare, Michele Visone, Vincenzo Mizzoni, Francesco Napolitano, and Danila d’Angelo. 2025. "Well-Being Indicators in Autistic Children and Therapy Dogs During a Group Intervention: A Pilot Study" Animals 15, no. 14: 2032. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15142032
APA StyleGiuliano, V. O., Sacchettino, L., Rusu, A. S., Ciccarelli, D., Gazzano, V., de Cesare, M., Visone, M., Mizzoni, V., Napolitano, F., & d’Angelo, D. (2025). Well-Being Indicators in Autistic Children and Therapy Dogs During a Group Intervention: A Pilot Study. Animals, 15(14), 2032. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15142032