Abstract
Dogs are considered the most important species involved in animal-assisted therapy (AAT), and the scientific literature focuses on the benefits linked to the involvement of dogs in various therapeutic areas. In this study, we carried out a systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, exploring the scientific literature from the last 5 years (2016-2021) on three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) to highlight the characteristics of the dogs involved in AATs. Based on the scientific literature relevant to such dogs, we considered different parameters (i.e., number, age, sex, breed, temperament, methods of choice and training, health status, research goals, and activities with dogs) to include studies in our paper. After screening 4331 papers identified on the searched databases, we selected 38 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Analysis of the included articles showed that the characteristics of the dogs were neglected. Our findings indicated a lack of information about the dogs, as well as the absence of standardized and univocal criteria for dog selection, training programs, and health protocols.
Highlights
According to some archaeological evidence, the domestication of dogs took place more than 30,000 years ago and was fundamental for the evolution of humans [1]
The dog is the main species involved in the scientific literature on animal-assisted therapy (AAT) [14–16]
This review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) [34] using the following steps: (1) preparation of a database search to detect potentially related articles, (2) assessment of the relevance of papers, (3) the evaluation of eligibility, and (4) data extraction
Summary
According to some archaeological evidence, the domestication of dogs took place more than 30,000 years ago and was fundamental for the evolution of humans [1]. One of the greatest skills of dogs is their ability to read the non-verbal language of humans [11]. This strong interspecific bond has been demonstrated by studies on attachment between dogs and humans. The close behavioral correspondence between dogs and human is widely recognized and gives the animals the necessary fundamental bonds of attachment to form a relationship [12,13]. These social skills have made it possible to involve dogs as valid co-therapists in AAT. The dog is the main species involved in the scientific literature on AAT [14–16]
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