A dogs-at-work program in a veterinary college: promoting workplace wellbeing and resilience

Frontiers in Psychology · 2026-03-26

Dogs-at-work (DAW) programs may be able to take advantage of the benefits of human-animal interactions to support the resilience and wellbeing of employees in high stress workplaces, but research in this area is limited. Consequently, employers are often hesitant to implement these programs. To expand our understanding and support implementation of these programs, this study uses the Resilience Portfolio Model to explore how wellbeing and resilience differ between veterinary staff, based on participation in a long-standing dogs-at-work program. An online survey consisting of open-ended questions about participants' perceptions and experiences with the program, and validated measures of mental health and work-related wellbeing, was distributed to faculty and staff eligible to participate in the DAW program. Results demonstrated that the 23 DAW participants and 65 non-participants were comparable across nearly all wellbeing measures, in alignment with population norms. Qualitative coding revealed four themes for perceptions and experiences with the DAW program and participating dogs: (1) an increase in social interactions, (2) improvements in mental health, (3) opportunities for physical activity, and (4) recommendations for program logistics. In line with the Resilience Portfolio Model, meaning-making, regulatory, interpersonal, and environmental strengths were all represented in the findings. Taken together, results indicated that veterinary staff perceived benefits from interacting with dogs at work and may draw resilience-supporting strengths from these interactions. Results also highlighted practical opportunities for program improvement, including equitable access and long-term program management needs.

Human–Dog Interaction Method and Dog Familiarity Differentially Modulate Prefrontal Connectivity and Autonomic Recovery Following Acute Stress: An fNIRS Study

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2026-03-28

Abstract Human–dog interaction is widely used to alleviate stress, yet the accompanying cortical and autonomic dynamics during acute stress and recovery remain incompletely characterized. In this study, 70 adult dog owners completed a standardized stress protocol while prefrontal cortex activity was continuously monitored with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), alongside subjective stress and salivary cortisol measures. Participants then underwent a recovery phase involving interaction with a companion dog, manipulating contact type (direct in person vs. indirect video conferencing), and familiarity (own vs. unfamiliar dog). Stress responses were quantified through heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), low- and high-frequency spectral power (LF, HF, and LF/HF), and prefrontal functional connectivity (FC) based on maximum cross-correlation coefficients between fNIRS channels. As expected, HR, HRV-derived indices, and FC increased from baseline to the stress phase, confirming robust engagement of autonomic and prefrontal networks. During the recovery phase, all dog interaction conditions demonstrated reductions in HR, LF/HF ratio, and FC toward or below baseline, consistent with physiological and neural stress recovery; direct interaction was associated with particularly pronounced parasympathetic enhancement and a drop in FC that fell significantly below baseline in some cases. Across groups, HRV, LF/HF, and FC were the most consistent predictors of subjective stress ratings, whereas associations with cortisol were limited. These findings suggest that human–dog interaction promotes coordinated autonomic and prefrontal recovery from acute stress, and that fNIRS-derived metrics might provide a marker of stress modulation that can distinguish high-cognitive load and low cognitive demand states beyond traditional stress indices.

Recognition of canine emotional facial expressions among dog owners, non-owners, and veterinary professionals

Open MIND · 2026-01-01

The present study aims to examine how individual experience with dogs influences the recognition of canine emotional facial expressions and the perception of emotional valence and arousal. Specifically, we will compare three groups of participants — dog owners, non-owners, and veterinary professionals — on their ability to discriminate 54 facial expressions of dogs displaying different emotional states. Participants will view photographs of dog faces depicting a range of emotions (anger, disgust, fear, happy, sad, and surprise). For each image, they will (a) classify the emotion expressed by the dog, (b) rate the perceived valence (positive–negative) and arousal of their own emotional reaction, and (c) rate the perceived valence and arousal of the dog’s emotional expression. In addition, all participants will complete a human–dog relationship scale. *This work is supported by CESPU – Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário under the grant BOND-VIEW-GI2-CESPU-2025.

LINK-D - Scale for Human-dog relationship

Open MIND · 2026-01-01

The LINK-D (Scale for Human–Dog Relationship) is a self-report questionnaire designed to evaluate multiple dimensions of individuals' relationships with dogs. *This work is part of a research project supported by CESPU – Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário under the grant BOND-VIEW-GI2-CESPU-2025.

Dataset for mediation analysis of pet ownership type and perceived stress

Purdue University Research Repository · 2026-05-11

<p>The study has been approved by Purdue University IRB (IRB-2020-760 & IRB-2024-1012). The dataset consists of 8 cohorts of dog and cat owners across different COVID pandemic phases. We performed a DAG-guided causal path analysis to estimate the effects of pet ownership type (dog vs. cat) on perceived stress. The analysis decomposed the total effect into direct and indirect components. Direct, indirect, joint indirect, and total effects were estimated using g-computation. The study outcome and mediators were re-scaled using the z-score method to ensure direct comparability of results across them. Statistical inference was based on 5,000 bootstrap replicates to derive 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Missing data were handled using Multiple Imputation by Chained Equation (MICE), with 20 imputations and 20 iterations per imputation. Analyses were repeated on imputed datasets and pooled using Rubin's rules. Sensitivity analyses were performed by comparing complete-case and imputed results for all key estimates. All analyses were performed in RStudio (Version 2025.09.0; Posit Team, 2025). Corresponding r code is provided as a supplemental file.</p> <p>By integrating a DAG-guided mediation analysis with a comparative evaluation of dog and cat ownership, this study provides a foundation for future research and evidence-based interventions aimed at optimizing the mental health benefits of companion animals. Our findings indicate that dog and cat ownership differ only slightly in their overall effects on perceived stress; however, mediation analyses reveal distinct species-specific mechanisms, with human-animal interaction and emotional closeness emerging as the most influential mediators for dog and cat ownership, respectively. These results underscore that the psychological impact of pet ownership is shaped by both social and emotional  pathways, consistent with social support and attachment theories. Despite these advances, a substantial portion of the association between pet ownership type and perceived stress remains unexplained by the mediators examined, highlighting the need for further research into additional pathways. Overall, this study deepens our understanding of how companion animals influence perceived stress and reinforces the importance of developing interventions and policies that account for species-specific differences and support caregiving demands to maximize the stress-buffering benefits of pet ownership.</p> <p>Additional notes:</p> <p>1. The dataset (PetStress.xlsx) is used for the manuscript intended for publication and includes only the variables analyzed.</p> <p>2. The supplemental r code serves as a record of the analysis and is not intended to be re-run.</p> <p>3. The dag.txt file can be used in DAGitty.net to reproduce the study DAG.</p>

Development of an assessment tool for behavioral and cognitive changes in aging cats

Journal of Veterinary Behavior · 2025-11-13

Demands and resources of a long-standing bring-your-dog-to-work program: a constant comparative analysis

Frontiers in Public Health · 2025-06-10 · 1 citations

Introduction: Given the evidence that companion animals may provide social and emotional support to their human counterparts, some companies have begun offering bring-your-dog-to-work programs in an effort to reduce employee strain and improve workplace wellness outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate how a long-standing bring-your-dog-to-work program at a large midwestern university veterinary college, the Dogs at Work Program, impacted the workplace well-being of program participants. Methods: = 11 staff and faculty members who participated in the program completed semi-structured interviews about their experiences. Interviews were analyzed using the constant comparative technique. Results: Constant comparative analysis revealed four themes situated within a job demands-resources theoretical framework: (1) Dogs providing emotional support as a resource, (2) Dogs providing social support as a resource, (3) Increased responsibility as a demand, and (4) Lack of adherence to program rules as a demand. Results indicated that bringing pet dogs into the workplace was viewed positively because the dogs provided an impetus for pleasant breaks from stressful work, improved work-life balance, and helped to develop and enhance social relationships. On the other hand, participants also mentioned that dogs could be a distraction from workplace productivity, especially if they were poorly behaved. Discussion: Well-enforced policies for dog activity and behavior are critical to ensure that dogs at work do not diminish productivity or upset some employees. Nevertheless, bring-your-dog-to-work-programs appear to show promise in terms of reducing strain and may be linked to improved mental health outcomes.

Real-world data on behavioral practices for dogs in primary care veterinary hospitals in the United States (2010–2020)

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association · 2025-03-19

Objective: To quantify the behavior problems and prescription of psychoactive medications in dogs seen at primary care veterinary hospitals. Methods: Medical records of canine patients in a nationwide network of primary care veterinary hospitals in the US obtained between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2020, were retrospectively analyzed. Information retrieved included prescription of clomipramine, fluoxetine, or trazodone; patient signalment; and common behavior problem labels (aggression, separation anxiety, and fear or anxiety unrelated to separation anxiety). Associations between behavior problem labels and drug prescriptions were assessed with Pearson χ2 tests. Results: A total of 32,468,046 canine medical records were retrieved. The overall prescription percentage was 0.03% for clomipramine, 0.02% for fluoxetine, and 1.33% for trazodone during the study period. Prescription of trazodone started in 2013, with a sharp increase after 2015. The frequency of behavior problem labels increased 10-fold from 1.0% in 2010 to 10.2% in 2020, with an overall frequency of 5%. Among dogs with behavior problem labels, 0.15% were prescribed clomipramine, 0.14% were prescribed fluoxetine, and 8.4% were prescribed trazodone. Notably, about 70% of dogs receiving psychoactive drugs had no associated behavior problem labels used in the study. Conclusions: Frequencies of behavior problem labels and prescriptions in primary care settings were both low, with notable variations among psychoactive drugs. Furthermore, about 70% of cases prescribed psychoactive medications lacked target behavior problem labels. Clinical Relevance: These findings highlight a critical need to bridge the knowledge gap between identifying behavior problems and effectively addressing them in behavioral practice within primary care veterinary settings.

Frequently used medications for feline problem behaviors

Elsevier eBooks · 2024-12-04

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Elsevier eBooks · 2024-12-04