Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Dogs play an important role in today’s society. Not only do they serve as loyal companions, but as colleagues, engaging in work ranging from protection (e.g. police dogs) to assistance (e.g. service dogs). The use of dogs to support people with disabilities is increasing, yet we know very little about how this type of work affects the dogs’ welfare and quality of life. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the welfare of service dogs in Sweden and how the handlers experience the welfare of their dogs. An online survey was distributed amongst service dog handlers in Sweden and contained questions about the handlers, their dogs and the handlers experience regarding the welfare of their dog. The results indicate that service dogs in Sweden maintain a good animal welfare and that the dogs’ well-being is highly prioritized amongst the handlers. Most dogs receive a high amount of physical activation and mental stimulation outside of their working hours, which is important to achieve a good animal welfare. Handlers also mentioned the importance of retirement and that a dog should no longer work when exhibiting signs of pain, illness, or lack of interest. However, the results also suggest a lack of recovery time due to long working hours which was confirmed by the handlers’ tendencies to feel concerned that the dogs were working too much.