Assistance Dog Placement in the Pediatric Population
From Service Dog Training
Assistance Dog Placement in the Pediatric Population: Benefits, Risks and Recommendations for Future Applications
Contents |
Overview
This paper interviewed 17 families who had a service dog placed with a child under 18, from one service dog school, NEADS. The stated purpose of the study was to evaluate the benefits and risks of placing service dogs with the pediatric population. Data was collected in an interview using an open-ended questionnaire asking about the various potential risks and benefits of service dog use. The age range of the children at the time of service dog placement was 5-17 years old, with a mean age of 10.9. While 24 teams were initially identified as candidates for the study, 4 had rehomed the service dog by the time of the study and others had complicating factors precluding involvement in the study.
Summary of results
Overall, the study found the teams reported benefits in 88% of placements and risks in 53% of cases. Of the risks, 24% of respondents considered the cost of maintaining the dog to be a burden, 29% considered the time expenditure associated with the dog to be a burden, 53% reported behavior problems and substantial effort to maintain the dog’s training, and 65% reported having access issues.
Of the benefits, 24% of teams reported physical benefits, of these, service and hearing dogs teams reported physical benefits in 33% of cases and social dog teams reported physical benefits in 18% of cases. 18% of teams reported medical benefits such as a reduction in medication, 71% reported cognitive or emotional benefit and 88% reported social benefit.
Additional Notes
The study notes that only one of the teams used the dog in a school setting, and that 65% included the dog in all social situations, 12% included the dog sometimes and 24% did not include the dog in social situations at all. Reasons given for not bringing the dog were the dog being too wild or having medical problems, friends not liking the dog or wanting it in their home, the presence of other dogs, and that the family was maintaining the dog strictly as a pet. The researchers also noted that client expectations of service dogs rarely parallel reality.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The primary strength of this study is that it is one of the few that examines the downside of service dog use as well as the benefit. The main weakness of the study was the very limited sample size and the lack of longitudinal analysis, however these weaknesses are acknowledged by the authors. This study provides a good starting point for similar research that should look at a larger sample size, separate the sample by type of service dog, and follow the teams for a longer period of time.
Citation
Davis, B., Nattrass, K., O'Brien, S., Patronek, G., & MacCollin, M. (2004). Assistance Dog Placement in the Pediatric Population: Benefits, Risks and Recommendations for Future Applications. Anthrozoos , 130-145.
