Animal Assisted Intervention for Developmental Disabilities

(DAID Trial)

Overseen By Megan MacDonald, PhD

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Oregon State University

Disqualifiers: Non english-speakers, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

100 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Do As I Do (DAID) dog training for developmental disabilities?

Research shows that dog-assisted therapy can improve social communication skills in children with autism and enhance cognitive and social skills in adults with intellectual disabilities. These findings suggest that similar dog training interventions like DAID may be beneficial for developmental disabilities. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Animal Assisted Intervention generally safe for humans?

Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) are generally considered safe when proper guidelines and risk assessments are followed, focusing on the welfare of both humans and animals involved. Ensuring the health and behavior of the animals is crucial to prevent risks, especially for vulnerable groups like children and individuals with weakened immune systems. ^{3 6 7 8 9}

How is the Do As I Do (DAID) dog training treatment unique for developmental disabilities?

The Do As I Do (DAID) dog training treatment is unique because it involves using dogs to assist individuals with developmental disabilities, such as autism, by enhancing social skills and compliance with challenging tasks. Unlike other treatments, it leverages the bond between humans and animals to improve quality of life and participation in social activities. ^{2 3 6 10 11}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The study purpose is to evaluate a novel multidisciplinary approach to fostering a therapeutic partnership between the participants with developmental disabilities and the participants family dog. This will culminate in an Animal Assisted Intervention aimed at increasing activity levels, enhancing social support, and increasing feeling of responsibility and wellbeing within this population.

Research Team

Megan MacDonald

Principal Investigator

Oregon State University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for children aged 10-17 with developmental disabilities who can follow basic instructions and have a family dog. It's not suitable for non-English speakers or those unable to understand simple commands.

Inclusion Criteria

Participant can follow basis instructions.

I am between 10 and 17 years old.

I have a family dog.

Exclusion Criteria

I am unable to follow basic instructions.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

DAID Dog Training Intervention

Participants engage in 'Do As I Do' dog training to promote physical activity and enhance the dog-human bond

12 months

Regular sessions (frequency not specified)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for physical activity and social well-being outcomes

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Do As I Do (DAID) dog training

Trial Overview The study tests 'Do As I Do' (DAID) dog training as a way to improve physical activity, social wellbeing, and feelings of responsibility in kids with developmental disabilities by working together with their family dogs.

Participant Groups

Group I: DAID dog training Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

'Do As I Do' (DAID) dog training employs operant conditioning to train dogs to copy the behavior of their owner upon hearing the verbal cue 'Do it', similar to teaching a dog the rules behind the game 'Simon Says'. Once this rule has been established and generalized, something that can be achieved in dogs by practicing with only 3-6 initially learned behaviors, owners can demonstrate new actions and use the cue 'Do it' to prompt a matched, imitative, behavioral response.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

No intervention (waitlisted and will be provided with the experimental condition post-study completion).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Oregon State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

51

Recruited

8,300+

Findings from Research

A study involving 73 children with autism spectrum disorder showed that a dog training intervention significantly improved social communication skills when implemented early in the school year, with benefits lasting beyond the intervention period.

The intervention, conducted twice weekly for 4 months, was found to be an effective adjunct treatment in special education settings, suggesting that therapy dogs can enhance social interaction skills in young children with autism.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dog training intervention improves adaptive social communication skills in young children with autism spectrum disorder: A controlled crossover study. Ben-Itzchak, E., Zachor, DA.[2021]

In a study involving 39 adults with severe to profound intellectual disability, those who participated in a 20-week dog-assisted treatment showed significant improvements in cognitive skills such as attention to movement and motor imitation.

The benefits of the dog-assisted intervention were specific to the treatment and were not influenced by the participants' age or baseline level of disability, suggesting its effectiveness across a diverse group.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Dog-Assisted Therapy on Communication and Basic Social Skills of Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: A Pilot Study. Scorzato, I., Zaninotto, L., Romano, M., et al.[2018]

Assistance dogs may enhance social behaviors and decrease the severity of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) symptoms, as suggested by trends observed in a study comparing six families with assistance dogs to twelve families on a waiting list.

While no significant differences were found between the two groups, families with longer partnerships with assistance dogs reported better overall wellbeing, indicating potential benefits that warrant further investigation with a larger sample size.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Outcomes of assistance dog placement in the home for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families: A pilot study. Leung, JY., Mackenzie, L., Dickson, C.[2022]

A pilot study involving 19 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) showed that therapy dog interventions significantly improved communication and social interaction skills, with a large effect size observed in the total score of the Assessment of Communication and Interaction Skills (ACIS).

The study demonstrated that animal-assisted intervention (AAI) is feasible and beneficial, as children showed significant improvements in their interactions with both the therapy dog and the therapist, suggesting AAI could be a valuable non-pharmacological therapy for enhancing social participation in young children with ASD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving social participation of children with autism spectrum disorder: Pilot testing of an early animal-assisted intervention in Spain. Ávila-Álvarez, A., Alonso-Bidegain, M., De-Rosende-Celeiro, I., et al.[2021]

A 10-week therapeutic horseback riding (THR) program significantly improved caring behaviors towards family pets in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as reported by caregivers, compared to a control group engaged in no-horse activities.

The study involved 67 participants aged 6-16 years, indicating that THR may help generalize positive interactions with animals, enhancing the overall well-being of children with ASD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Therapeutic Horseback Riding Crossover Effects of Attachment Behaviors with Family Pets in a Sample of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Petty, JD., Pan, Z., Dechant, B., et al.[2023]

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who have assistance dogs report that their children are significantly safer from environmental dangers and that the public treats them more respectfully, compared to parents on a waiting list for assistance dogs.

The presence of an assistance dog also enhances caregivers' sense of competence in managing their child, although some parents noted the commitment required to care for the dog as a constraint.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parents' perspectives on the value of assistance dogs for children with autism spectrum disorder: a cross-sectional study. Burgoyne, L., Dowling, L., Fitzgerald, A., et al.[2021]

Canine-assisted interventions (CAIs) can provide significant benefits to clients, but the health and behavior of the dogs involved are crucial for ensuring safety, especially for vulnerable populations like those with chronic illnesses or the elderly.

Regular welfare assessments for dogs in CAIs are recommended to maintain their well-being and ensure the safety and effectiveness of the interventions for human participants.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Canine-Assisted Interventions and the Relevance of Welfare Assessments for Human Health, and Transmission of Zoonosis: A Literature Review. Meers, LL., Contalbrigo, L., Samuels, WE., et al.[2023]

Involving stakeholders in the development of the Canines for Autism Activity and Nutrition (CAAN) program significantly enhanced the program's effectiveness and quality for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The stakeholder-informed approach was crucial for creating assessment tools and program materials, ensuring that the animal-assisted intervention aligns with the needs of children undergoing Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Stakeholder-Engaged Approach to Development of an Animal-Assisted Intervention for Obesity Prevention Among Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Pet Dogs. Linder, DE., Folta, SC., Must, A., et al.[2023]

Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) have grown significantly in various settings, but there are currently no standardized guidelines or risk assessment tools, leading to unregulated practices.

The authors propose urgently needed guidelines focused on safety and welfare for all participants, including animals, and provide the first comprehensive risk assessment and animal welfare tools to ensure consistent standards in AAI worldwide.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Best Practice Standards in Animal-Assisted Interventions: How the LEAD Risk Assessment Tool Can Help. Brelsford, VL., Dimolareva, M., Gee, NR., et al.[2020]

In a study assessing the effectiveness of therapy dogs for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), one third of participants showed high preference for the dog, while another third showed low preference, indicating varied responses to therapy animals.

The study found that preference for the therapy dog was a good predictor of its effectiveness as a reinforcer in interventions, suggesting that systematic assessments should be conducted to optimize the use of therapy animals in clinical settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Advancing Methods in Animal-Assisted Intervention: Demonstration of Starting Points in Clinical Practice for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Clay, CJ., Schmitz, BA., Hogg, AD., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 10 boys aged 6 to 9 with severe autism spectrum disorder, interacting with a live dog before a challenging task significantly increased their compliance and reduced distress compared to engaging with a toy or robotic dog.

The presence of a live dog not only helped the children wait calmly during the task but also resulted in lower heart rate reactivity, suggesting a calming effect that may enhance their ability to follow instructions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Can Dogs Assist Children with Severe Autism Spectrum Disorder in Complying with Challenging Demands? An Exploratory Experiment with a Live and a Robotic Dog. Silva, K., Lima, M., Santos-Magalhães, A., et al.[2018]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dog training intervention improves adaptive social communication skills in young children with autism spectrum disorder: A controlled crossover study. [2021]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Dog-Assisted Therapy on Communication and Basic Social Skills of Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: A Pilot Study. [2018]

3. Australia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Outcomes of assistance dog placement in the home for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families: A pilot study. [2022]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving social participation of children with autism spectrum disorder: Pilot testing of an early animal-assisted intervention in Spain. [2021]

5. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Therapeutic Horseback Riding Crossover Effects of Attachment Behaviors with Family Pets in a Sample of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. [2023]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parents' perspectives on the value of assistance dogs for children with autism spectrum disorder: a cross-sectional study. [2021]

7. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Canine-Assisted Interventions and the Relevance of Welfare Assessments for Human Health, and Transmission of Zoonosis: A Literature Review. [2023]

8. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Stakeholder-Engaged Approach to Development of an Animal-Assisted Intervention for Obesity Prevention Among Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Pet Dogs. [2023]

9. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Best Practice Standards in Animal-Assisted Interventions: How the LEAD Risk Assessment Tool Can Help. [2020]

10. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Advancing Methods in Animal-Assisted Intervention: Demonstration of Starting Points in Clinical Practice for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. [2023]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Can Dogs Assist Children with Severe Autism Spectrum Disorder in Complying with Challenging Demands? An Exploratory Experiment with a Live and a Robotic Dog. [2018]