Shoesmith Emily, Stevens Heidi, Gibsone Selina, Miles Cari, Beal Hannah, Jennings Kelly, Ratschen Elena
Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK.
Dogs for Good, The Frances Hay Centre, Blacklocks Hill, Banbury OX17 2BS, UK.
Animals (Basel). 2025 Aug 25;15(17):2492. doi: 10.3390/ani15172492.
Assistance dogs can support children with autism by improving emotional regulation and social functioning, but access is limited. The Family Dog Service was developed to help families of autistic children gain similar benefits through companion dogs. It offers tailored support for selecting, training, and integrating a dog into the home. This study explored parent perspectives on the service and perceived impacts of companion dogs. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among UK residents who attended Family Dog Service workshops. The survey included demographic data, mental health and wellbeing measures, and questions about human-animal interactions. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively; qualitative responses underwent thematic analysis. Of 118 participants, 101 (85.6%) owned a dog, while 17 (14.4%) were considering acquisition. Most owners reported improvements in their child's mood (75.2%; n = 76) and reduced anxiety-related behaviours (70.3%, n = 71) following dog acquisition. Nearly half (49.5%, n = 50) rated the child-dog relationship as 'very' or 'extremely' positive within the first month, increasing to 86.1% (n = 87) by the time of data collection. Families also reported enhanced dynamics and reduced caregiver stress. Despite some challenges, the service was valued for its autism-specific guidance and ongoing support. The Family Dog Service may offer a practical, accessible alternative to assistance dogs, supporting autistic children's wellbeing and strengthening family relationships through positive interactions between children and their dogs.
辅助犬可以通过改善情绪调节和社交功能来支持自闭症儿童，但获得辅助犬的机会有限。“家庭犬服务”项目应运而生，旨在帮助自闭症儿童家庭通过陪伴犬获得类似的益处。该项目为挑选、训练犬只并使其融入家庭提供量身定制的支持。本研究探讨了家长对该服务的看法以及陪伴犬所带来的感知影响。对参加“家庭犬服务”工作坊的英国居民进行了一项横断面在线调查。调查内容包括人口统计学数据、心理健康和幸福感测量指标，以及关于人与动物互动的问题。对定量数据进行描述性分析；对定性回答进行主题分析。在118名参与者中，101人（85.6%）拥有一只犬，17人（14.4%）正在考虑养狗。大多数犬主人报告称，养狗后孩子的情绪有所改善（75.2%；n = 76），与焦虑相关的行为减少（70.3%，n = 71）。近一半（49.5%，n = 50）的人在第一个月将孩子与犬的关系评为“非常”或“极其”积极，到数据收集时这一比例增至86.1%（n = 87）。家庭还报告称家庭氛围更加融洽，照顾者压力减轻。尽管存在一些挑战，但该服务因其针对自闭症的指导和持续支持而受到重视。“家庭犬服务”项目可能为辅助犬提供一种实用、可及的替代方案，通过儿童与其犬之间的积极互动来支持自闭症儿童的幸福，并加强家庭关系。
