Researchers: Dr. Cindy L. Adams, MSW, PhD; Kristen E. Burrows, BSc

Research Significance: Autism is a major public health problem that is the most common neurological disorder affecting children. Autism manifests itself most strikingly as impairments in formation of social relationships and communication.

Conventional therapeutic interventions have little impact on the improvement of autistic behaviours. Existing literature suggests that dogs are crucial in children's social and cognitive development. Human-animal interactions may alleviate stress in children and reduce autistic characteristics and behaviours. Animals can act as transitional objects, where bonds formed between children and animals can be transferred to humans.

By matching trained service dogs to families with autistic children (six families received NSD service dogs in November), our research hopes to evaluate the potential benefits of long-term human-animal companionship. In fact, at the three month mark, most families have already been positively impacted by the service dogs.

Our collaboration with the National Service Dogs Training Centre will provide a very unique opportunity to study these dogs in a home environment. Because of the sensitive and confidential nature of this project, a specialist in Qualitative Ethology will be utilized to best capture the behaviours and autistic characteristics of interest. An animal behaviourist and an autism specialist will provide guidance with respect to interviews and video data collection.

A heightened awareness of the impact of dogs on children could serve to enhance our knowledge of family and human-animal relationships. This study will only serve to further support the health benefits of companion animals, as well as contributing to the understanding of the human-animal bond and the important role it plays in companion animal medicine.

Objective 1:To determine if there is an association between the inclusion of a service dog in the lives of children, and to determine specific outcomes such as: improved safety of the child (reduction of unsafe behaviour i.e. bolting); increased social interactions; decreased autistic behaviour (according to doctor's records); increased human-animal bond (i.e. attachment, affection).

Objective 2:To determine the impact of a service dog on parents/families of children with autism (stress reduction, increased happiness levels, increased family cohesion, increased number of family outings).

Objective 3:To describe and define the evolution of the human-animal bond.