title: Can dogs prime autistic children for therapy? Evidence from a single case study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Canine-assisted therapy has been receiving growing attention as a means of aiding children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Yet, only limited studies have been done and a great deal of literature related to this intervention is anecdotal. The present study aims at providing additional quantitative evidence on the potential of dogs to positively modulate the behavior of children with ASD.
  A 12-year-old boy diagnosed with ASD was exposed, at his usual treatment location (the Portuguese Association for Developmental Disorders and Autism at Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal), to the following treatment conditions: (1) one-to-one structured activities with a therapist assisted by a certified therapy dog, and (2) one-to-one structured activities with the same therapist alone (as a control). To accurately assess differences in the behavior of the participant between these treatment conditions, the therapist followed a strict research protocol. The behavior of the participant was continuously video-recorded during both treatment conditions for further analysis and comparison. Treatment outcomes: In the presence of the dog, the participant exhibited more frequent and longer durations of positive behaviors (such as smiling and positive physical contacting) as well as less frequent and shorter durations of negative behaviors (such as aggressive manifestations).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings are in accordance with previous experimental work and provide additional support for the assertion that dogs can prime autistic children for therapy. Ultimately, this study may contribute toward a change for full acceptance of canine-assisted therapy programs within the medical milieu. Additional studies using a similar research protocol on more autistic children will certainly help professionals to work on the most effective methods to individually serve this population through canine-assisted interventions.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências do Comportamento, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Porto, Portugal. karine_silva_24@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.forename: Mariely
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Sousa
mesh_terms: D056447:Animal Assisted Therapy; D000818:Animals; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011174:Portugal; D012919:Social Behavior; D016896:Treatment Outcome