Stress and burnout in dogs involved in animal assisted interventions: A survey of Italian handlers’ opinion

Abstract

Animal assisted interventions (AAI) are widely recognized for their benefits to humans, but what about the welfare and stress experienced by the animals involved? Although interest in this subject is increasing, the existing literature reveals inconsistencies, particularly between physiological indicators and observed behavioral responses. In this survey, which examines the opinions of 52 handlers, we explore the occurrence of acute stress and the potential for burnout in AAI, as well as the associated behavioural patterns. The results indicate that handlers possess skills in recognizing stress, and training should continue to provide tools for stress identification and ways to reduce stressful situations or remove animals from the setting. Acute stress appears to occur most frequently during AAA sessions with children, where unexpected events often trigger stress responses such as changes in posture, heightened alertness, and facial expressions.