Study highlights benefits of trained assistance dogs in schools
Animal-assisted programmes in Sweden have grown in popularity.
A new study has highlighted the mental health and economic benefits of using trained assistance dogs in schools - particularly for autistic pupils and those experiencing bullying.
The study, presented at the Uppsala Health Summit in Sweden (18-21 October), also found that dogs often reduced absences from school and improved a child’s academic performance.
Animal-assisted programmes in Sweden have grown in popularity, but budget cuts in education and health authorities have forced a number of them to close. Recent research, however, has highlighted the positive benefits to children and their families from participating in regular animal-assisted sessions.
As part of this new study, 70 teachers in Sweden from schools with animals, mainly dogs, completed a questionnaire. The questionnaire asked if the teachers had success when interacting with dogs in school.
Co-author Professor Lena Lidfors from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences said: “Everyone said ‘yes', no-one answered ‘no’. The health economic benefits are that pupils can end school with approved grades so they can get higher education and a job.”
The cost of training a social therapy dog in Sweden is around €3,000, but the price to schools is much lower as handlers often volunteer their time or charge a minimal fee. Researchers estimate, however, that the social cost of a one-year delay in a person entering the workforce is €50,000.
Sara Karlberg, the CEO of the Swedish Therapy Dog School, who presented the paper, said: “We have the evidence to show that the therapy helps the children to reach their goals in school, which in the long term means they can provide for themselves when they grow up.”
Researchers hope the findings will give ‘new energy’ to the discussion on animal-assisted programmes in Sweden’s schools and encourage a national dialogue in Sweden on the issue.
The research, ‘Mapping of social working dog teams in Sweden’, was supported by Ceva Animal Health.
RCVS Knowledge has welcomed Professor Peter Cockcroft as editor-in-chief for Veterinary Evidence. 
