Are Animal Assisted Activities dogs different from pet dogs? A comparison of their sociocognitive abilities

Animal assisted activities (AAA) refer to a variety of interactions between animals and humans, intended to improve people ’s wellbeing providing recreational or educational opportunities. Domestic dogs are one of the most commonly used animals for these kinds of interventions, given their trainability and the positive effects of dog-human interactions. Nevertheless, the selection of participating animals is mainly un systematic and training is not required for dogs to take part in AAA. Previous studies suggest that high sociability as well as reduced fear and aggression are desirable traits in AAA dogs.
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Source Type: research