Beyond Cuddling Canines: Exploring Students’ Perceptions of the Importance of Touch in an On-Campus Canine-Assisted Intervention

Abstract

Despite the increasing popularity of canine-assisted interventions (CAIs) across a variety of contexts, there is a paucity of literature exploring participants’ perceptions of the mechanisms that contribute to the benefits reported by researchers. This study aimed to expand on the knowledge obtained by our Phase I findings and to better understand undergraduate participants’ (N = 280) perceptions and experiences of direct, physical contact versus indirect, close contact with therapy dogs and spending time with therapy dog handlers alone. Participants’ responses revealed that direct contact with therapy dogs was more likely to elicit benefits in positive affect, including reducing stress and improving mood, than those in the indirect or handler-only groups. Conversely, spending time with the handlers only was more likely to elicit social benefits, such as feeling more connected and less homesick. These findings hold implications for post-secondary CAIs and for therapy dog programs.