Comparison Between a Live Canine or Toy Dog on Prosocial Behavior and Emotional Regulation in Autistic Children

One group had a live therapy canine included in therapy sessions who was trained to provide comfort measures and promote interaction with autistic children. He is a certified therapy and service dog and knows over 50 commands and is certified in 10 autism service dog tasks. Participants played with him at the beginning of the session. They could choose to play fetch or hide and seek. Participants could say commands to make him do tricks and give him a treat as a reward. The canine would lay at participants' feet while the therapist was working on a skill in the clinic room. The canine would alert to the onset of anxiety and provide comfort measures. Participants could also cue the canine to provide comfort measures or could brush his fur and give him water as a prosocial behavior. Participants ended sessions with either fetch, soccer, or hide and seek.

One group had a toy plush dog included in therapy sessions. The therapist would incorporate the toy plush dog in the seated portion of the session to practice social skills. Participants could brush the toy plush dog, pet it, and hold it during sessions.