Assistance Dogs

Dogs as an assistive aid for people with disabilities date as far back in time as the first century CE. Today, dogs are used in various settings to help and assist humans. ‘Assistance dogs’ is an umbrella term for guide dogs, hearing dogs and service dogs. They are custom trained to help and support their owners in their everyday life and thereby give them greater independence. Dogs who perform dog-assisted interventions are another type of working dog, where the dog and the owner work together as a team visiting people with various needs in different settings such as hospitals and nursing homes. These visits aim to strengthen people’s inner motivation, using the dog as an external motivator. There is a lack of evaluations of working dogs in the health technology assessment context, and in the health economic evaluation context. Hence, there is a need for structured analyses that include both the short and long-term effects and the costs of assistance dogs and dog-assisted interventions. The overall aim of this thesis is to explore and assess the use of assistance dogs and dog-assisted interventions. The research questions were investigated using a variety of methods. In paper I, inferential statistical analysis was used to analyse patient-reported outcomes measures. In paper II, a thematic content analysis was employed to explore the experiences of service and hearing dogs. To study the long-term cost-effectiveness of physical service dogs and diabetes alert dogs, a decision analytic model was used in paper III. The input data in studies I, II, and III was obtained from the Service and Hearing Dog Project. In paper III, the data was also supplemented with information from published literature and expert opinions. Paper IV investigated the effects and cost-effectiveness of dog-assisted interventions, and takes the form of a systematic review. Paper I showed that a service or hearing dog may have positive impact on its owner’s health-related quality of life, well-being and activity level. Paper II showed that owners of service or hearing dogs experienced both positive physical and psychosocial effects from their dog. Negative experiences were also identified, for example being denied access to public places and negative attitudes from other people. Paper III showed that physical service dogs and diabetes alert dogs are cost-effective in comparison with regular companion dogs, resulting in both lower costs and a gain in QALYs. The one-way sensitivity analysis did not change the results, but the probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that the results were uncertain. Synthesizing the results from the review in paper IV showed that dog-assisted interventions for therapeutic purposes led to minor to moderate effects in psychiatric conditions. Dog-assisted interventions as an activity had minor to moderate effects on cognitive disorders, and dog-assisted interventions for support purposes were beneficial in different types of medical interventions. Studies of cost-effectiveness were lacking. To conclude, assistance dogs are valuable and may be cost-effective for use as assistive aids and dog-assisted interventions render minor to moderate effects in certain situations in healthcare settings. Användning av hundar som hjälpmedel för personer med funktionsnedsättning går att spåra ändå tillbaka till första århundradet e.Kr. Idag används hundar i människans tjänst i en mängd olika sammanhang. Assistanshundar är ett samlingsbegrepp för ledarhundar, signalhundar och servicehundar. De är specialutbildade för att hjälpa och stödja sina ägare i deras vardag och på så vis ge dem möjlighet till att leva ett mer självständigt liv. Hundar som utför hundassisterade interventioner är en annan typ av tjänstehund, men deras jobb är inte att hjälpa sin ägare. Istället arbetar hundar som utför hundassisterade interventioner och deras ägare som ett team. Tillsammans besöker de personer med olika behov i olika miljöer som exempelvis sjukhus eller äldreboende. De arbetar med att stärka motivationen hos personerna de träffar. Idag saknas det övergripande utvärderingar som tittar på olika aspekter av den här typen av hundar. Det saknas även utvärderingar som specifikt studerar effekter och kostnader av assistanshundar och hundassisterade interventioner. Det finns därför ett behov av strukturerade analyser som inkluderar både kort- och långsiktiga effekter samt kostnader för denna typ av hundar och interventioner. Det övergripande syftet med denna doktorsavhandling är att utforska och utvärdera användningen av assistanshundar och hundassisterade interventioner. Frågeställningarna studeras med ett brett urval av metoder. I studie I analyseras patientrapporterade utfallsmått med statistiska metoder. I studie II genomförs en tematisk innehållsanalys för att undersöka förarnas upplevelser av service- och signalhundar. För att analysera den långsiktiga kostnadseffektiviteten av fysiska servicehundar och alarmerande diabeteshundar i studie III konstrueras en beslutsmodell. Datamaterialet i studie I, II och III hämtas från service- och signalhundsprojektet. I studie III kompletteras data med information från publicerad litteratur och med expertutlåtande. I studie IV studeras effekterna och kostnadseffektiviteten av hundassisterade interventioner genom en systematisk litteraturöversikt. Studie I visade att en service- eller signalhund kan ha en positiv inverkan på deras ägares hälsorelaterade livskvalitet, välbefinnande och aktivitetsnivå. Resultaten från de tematiska analyserna i studie II påvisade att ägare av en service- eller signalhund upplevde både positiva fysiska och psykosociala effekter av sin hund. Negativa erfarenheter av hunden identifierades också, till exempel att hunden begränsade möjligheten att vistas i offentliga miljöer och andra personers negativa attityder. Studie III visade att fysiska servicehundar och alarmerande diabeteshundar är kostnadseffektiva i jämförelse med vanliga sällskapshundar, de var både kostnadsbesparande och innebar en QALY-vinst. Känslighetsanalyser av specifika parametrar påverkade inte resultaten, men den probabilistiska känslighetsanalysen visade att resultaten var osäkra. Resultaten från den systematiska litteraturöversikten i artikel IV visade att hundassisterad interventioner som ges i terapeutiskt syfte hade små till måttliga effekter vid psykiatriska tillstånd. Hundassisterade aktiviteter hade små till måttliga effekter vid kognitiva störningar och hundassisterade interventioner som gavs som stöd vid olika typer av medicinska insatser var fördelaktiga. Studier gällande kostnadseffektivitet av hundassisterade interventioner saknades. Sammanfattningsvis, assistanshundar som hjälpmedel ger positiva effekter i flera dimensioner för sina ägare och är sannolikt kostnadseffektiva. Hundassisterade interventioner uppvisar små till måttliga effekter i vissa situationer i hälso- och sjukvården.

A book of guidance and advice about how to become a Therapy Dog team. It contains the tips and tricks the author has learned in a decade of Therapy Dog work. If you're ready to become a Therapy Dog team but are hesitant to dive into the unknown and just want someone to be there to guide you along the way, this book is for you. If you've always been a little curious what Therapy Dog work was all about and why people do it, this book is for you. If you're a trainer, veterinarian, groomer, or other dog professional who has people asking them about Therapy Dog work but you've had no idea how to help them find answers, this book is for you.

Master service dog training at home with this easy step-by-step guide Service dogs are life-changing for people with a range of physical and mental disabilities. But getting one can be complicated and expensive. The Service Dog Training Guide offers you an easy, step-by-step program for you and your dog to follow at home. Bone up on everything from basic exercises to essential service dog tasks that will guide you and your dog on the best training path. You’ll also find an overview of different types of service and support dogs, breeds, and equipment for training. The step-by-step instructions will help you teach your dog everything from retrieving items to reminding someone to take medication. The Service Dog Training Guide includes: A multi-path approach—Weigh crucial factors to determine which type of service dog tasks—psychiatric, medical, or mobility assistance—your dog is best suited for. Easy-to-follow—All exercises are broken down into clear and complete step-by-step instructions and troubleshooting tips to help general readers train their own service dog. The power of positive reinforcement—Learn to communicate effectively with your dog by motivating them to learn faster with praise and rewards. Make a difference in someone’s life with this practical approach to training your own service dog.

After a devastating diagnosis at the age of 39, Maureen Maurer was given a second chance at life. Giving up her successful career as a CPA, she took a leap of faith to pursue her childhood dream: teaching dogs to help people with disabilities. She founded two nonprofit organizations, Assistance Dogs of Hawaii and Assistance Dogs Northwest, and unleashed the potential dogs have to help people with special needs. In Wonder Dogs, Maureen shares her story of discovering God's true purpose for her life and the amazing adventure that followed. She also tells the triumphant stories of her beloved dogs and their inspiring partners as they overcome incredible challenges to live life to the fullest. These heartwarming and uplifting accounts show what's possible when we focus on abilities rather than disabilities. Dog lovers everywhere will enjoy this fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at what goes into selecting and training assistance dogs. Anyone who loves stories about second chances and overcoming challenges will find in Wonder Dogs a whole pack of kindred spirits.

Introduces equipment, techniques, activities, and reinforcement required to successfully train a dog, including advice on healthcare, competition, and behavioral issues.

Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy: Foundations and Guidelines for Animal-Assisted Interventions, Fifth Edition highlights advances in the field, with seven new chapters and revisions to over 75% of the material. This book will help therapists discover the benefits of incorporating animal assisted therapy into their practice, how to design and implement animal assisted interventions, and the efficacy of animal assisted therapy with different disorders and patient populations. Coverage includes the use of AAT with children, families and the elderly, in counseling and psychotherapy settings, and for treating a variety of specific disorders. Contains seven new chapters in addition to 75% new or revised material Includes guidelines and best practices for using animals as therapeutic companions Addresses specific types of patients and environmental situations Includes AAI working with cats, dogs, birds, and horses Discusses why animals are used in therapy, as well as how