Research Findings:
This study was conducted to evaluate the current matching practices of service dogs with veteran handlers and to determine the role of occupational therapy in this setting.
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Needs Assessment Results:
Based on the findings of this study, the role of OT could be involved in the initial interview phase of the match and in the aftercare. OTs are skilled in adaptations, activity modification, and assisting with role transitions. The OT could collaborate and consult with training staff to work on dressing tasks that the service dog will assist in such as donning/doffing socks, shirts, and jackets. The OT could help sharpen these skills in the clinical setting.
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Interview Results:
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Current Literature:
Brown, H. V., & Hollis, V. (2013). The meaning of occupation, occupational need, and occupational therapy in a military
context. Physical Therapy, 93(9), 1244–1253. https://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20120162
Crowe, T. K., Sánchez, V., Howard, A., Western, B., & Barger, S. (2018). Veterans transitioning from isolation to
integration: A look at veteran/service dog partnerships. Disability & Rehabilitation, 40(24), 2953–2961.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2017.1363301
Hoisington, A. J., Billera, D. M., Bates, K. L., Stamper, C. E., Stearns-Yoder, K. A., Lowry, C. A., & Brenner, L. A. (2018).
Exploring service dogs for rehabilitation of veterans with PTSD: A microbiome perspective. Rehabilitation
Psychology, 63(4), 575–587. https://doi.org/10.1037/rep0000237
Kloep, M. L., Hunter, R. H., & Kertz, S. J. (2017). Examining the effects of a novel training program and use of psychiatric
service dogs for military-related PTSD and associated symptoms. The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 87(4),
425–433. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000254
Krause-Parello, C. A., & Morales, K. A. (2018). Military veterans and service dogs: A qualitative inquiry using interpretive
phenomenological analysis. Anthrozoös, 31(1), 61–75. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2018.1406201
LaFollette, M. R., Rodriguez, K. E., Ogata, N., & O’Haire, M. E. (2019). Military veterans and their PTSD service dogs:
Associations between training methods, PTSD severity, dog behavior, and the human-animal bond. Frontiers in
Veterinary Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00023
Lawlor, C. M. (2020). Effects of service dog companionship on sleep heart rate in a military veteran population with
combat-related or military sexual trauma-related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (2020-04049-010; Issues 6-B).
ProQuest Information & Learning.
Lloyd, J., Budge, C., Grow, S. L., & Stafford, K. (2016). An investigation of the complexities of successful and unsuccessful
guide dog matching and partnerships. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2016.00114
McLaughlin, K., & Hamilton, A. L. (2019). Exploring the influence of service dogs on participation in daily occupations
by veterans with PTSD: A pilot study. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 66(5), 648–655.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12606
Nieforth, L. O., Rodriguez, K. E., & O’Haire, M. E. (2021). Expectations versus experiences of veterans with posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) service dogs: An inductive conventional content analysis. Psychological Trauma: Theory,
Research, Practice, and Policy. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001021
Scotland-Coogan, D. (2019). Relationships, socialization and combat veterans: The impact of receiving and training a
service dog. Qualitative Report, 24(8), 1897–1914. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A601326049/AONE
u=lirn55718&sid=AONE&xid=99f6a5a8
Stumbo, S. P., & Yarborough, B. J. H. (2019). Preliminary evidence is promising, but challenges remain in providing
service dogs to veterans: Commentary on preliminary efficacy of service dogs as a complementary treatment for
posttraumatic stress disorder in military members and veterans. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 87(1),
118–121. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000352
Winkle, M., Herlache-Pretzer, E., Ni, K., & Jones, A. (2020). Occupational therapy’s role with assistance dogs.
Assistance-Dogs.aspx
Human-Animal Bond
"I know my bond with her is strong, some of the physical cues I don’t even realize that I’m doing but have taught her to recognize, they could just be minute, and she will pick up on them immediately. It is nice to know how reliable she is.”
Dog Training
“Practice at home because if you don’t, they’re not going to do it in public and like you know you have to work it…the program director always said if you don’t use it, you lose it so you have to keep up on their skills and their training so like I’m really big on doing that.”
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Service Dog as a Support System
“I was completely isolated at home; I only went to work and home. I didn’t go grocery shopping, didn’t go to restaurants, I didn’t do anything”
Change
“Having [my service dog] there was really good for me and I can’t imagine doing anything without her these days.”
Matching Process
Supports
“So that is kind of how we did it, [we would] work with each dog, each training, until you find a dog you have a rhythm with, I thought it was interesting.”
Barriers
“I wish that there would have been more time for one-on-one training because there are things that I taught her myself that I wish I would have had help with. I taught her how to do retrievals… they are really busy all the time, so it is hard to like to get that one-on-one training in.”