Canine Connection Therapy: Finding Purpose and Healing Through the Training of Service Dogs

The effect of a service dog on salivary cortisol awakening response in a military population with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

“…PTSD service dogs can also be trained to be attentive to an individual's behavior and provide a redirection of attention during an episode of re-experiencing or distress. Qualitative evidence suggests that PTSD service dogs can confer unique benefits to military veterans that address PTSD symptomology, especially hyperarousal (Crowe et al, 2017;Olmert et al, 2015;Taylor et al, 2013;Yount et al, 2012). Beyond anecdotal reports, quantitative studies have documented significant effects of PTSD service dogs on self-reports of PTSD symptoms, depression, quality of life, emotional health, and interpersonal relationships (Kloep et al, 2017;O'Haire and Rodriguez, 2018;Vincent et al, 2017;Yarborough et al, 2017).…”