Man’s Best Friend or Man’s Best Therapist? Exploring the Barriers to Facilitating Dog-Assisted Therapy.

Previous research has supported the efficacy of dog-assisted therapy, however, there continues to be a gap in the literature to explain why there are few opportunities to engage in this type of therapy. This research aimed to identify the perceived barriers to facilitating dog-assisted therapy to comprehend why few therapists choose to practice in this field. To achieve this, semi-structured interviews took place with three participants with varying experiences of dog-assisted therapy. These interviews were analysed using thematic analysis, generating three superordinate themes: Dog Welfare, Dog Suitability and No Regulation. This research concluded that the lack of regulation within the field of dog-assisted therapy provides little guidance for therapists when tackling tensions between Dog Welfare and Dog Suitability, which could discourage new therapists from entering the field.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

ma

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Watts, Aislyn

• RC Meddygaeth fewnol
• SF Magu anifeiliaid

Dc Identifier Grantnumber

UWTSD

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.uwtsd.ac.uk:3955