Categories
Psychology Therapy

Serious fun: animal assisted play therapy

Most of us know that playing with dogs and horses can be fun, but have you ever considered how important animal-assisted play might be in psychological therapy for people?

Dr. Risë VanFleet is the Founder of the Family Enhancement & Play Therapy Center in the United States, an organisation specialising in the training and supervision of child, family, and play therapy professionals, as well as the provision of mental health services for children and families.

She is a psychologist and author of several books, who focuses on strengthening family relationships through play, and has specialties in chronic medical illness, disaster mental health, child and family trauma and attachment interventions using play therapy, filial therapy, and the training and involvement of animals in assisted play therapy.

It’s this area of using animals, particularly dogs and horses, in play as a mode of therapy for people that we learn about with Risë in this episode.

Podcast

Publications

Dr. Risë VanFleet - Animal assisted play therapy
Dr. Risë VanFleet

VanFleet, R. (2008) Play Therapy with Kids and Canines: Benefits for Children’s Developmental and Psychosocial Health. Professional Resource Press (Book)

VanFleet, R. & Faa-Thompson, T. (2012) The power of play, multiplied. Play Therapy, 70, 7-10. (PDF)

VanFleet, R., & Faa-Thompson, T. (2010). The case for using animal-assisted play therapyBritish Journal of Play Therapy6, 4-18. (PDF)

Thompson, M. J. (2009). Animal-assisted play therapy: Canines as co-therapistsCompelling counseling interventions: VISTAS, 199-209. (PDF)

Odendaal, J. (2000). Animal-assisted therapy—magic or medicine? Journal of psychosomatic research49(4), 275-280.

Links

Risë VanFleet’s website: www.risevanfleet.com

Playful Pooch animal-assisted therapy website

The Clothier Animal Response Assessment Tool (CARAT)


Header image: Flickr/Matteo Paciotti

Categories
Archaeology

Zooarchaeology: bones to answer beastly questions

This episode of Human Animal Science will change the way you look at a chicken wishbone, forever!

Naomi Sykes is an Associate Professor in Zooarchaeology (the study of human-animal relationships in archaeology) at the University of Nottingham, UK.

Her research focuses on human-animal-landscape relationships and how they inform us about the structure, beliefs and practices of past societies.

Naomi’s approach in the exciting area of zooarchaeology has wide application across different geographical areas and time.

Her fascinating research integrates animal bone data with other categories of physical culture, and with wider archaeological, historical, scientific and anthropological discussions.

Podcast

Books

Beastly Questions: Animal Answers to Archaeological Issues, Naomi Sykes
Beastly Questions

Sykes, N. (2014) Beastly Questions: Animal Answers to Archaeological Issues, Bloomsbury Academic.

Publications

Sykes, N. (2012) A social perspective on the introduction of exotic animals: the case of the British chicken, World Archaeology 44(1): 158-169.

Sykes, N. (2004). The dynamics of status symbols: Wildfowl exploitation in England AD 410–1550The Archaeological Journal161, 82-105.

Links

Naomi Sykes - Zooarchaeologist
Naomi Sykes – Zooarchaeologist

Beastly Questions (book) profile: Bloomsbury

Cultural and scientific perceptions of human-chicken interactions (SciCultChickens)

Header image: Flickr/Juan Chamorro

Categories
Animal Welfare Pets Research

Wild behaviour: the science of why cats like boxes

Sandra McCune holds a PhD that examined the temperament and welfare of caged cats as well as qualifications in vet nursing and zoology. She knows the answer to why cats like boxes, and the science behind it.

In her current role as the Scientific Leader for Human-Animal Interaction at the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition, she manages a large portfolio of collaborative research projects.

These projects cover many aspects of human-animal interaction, in countries including US, UK, Austria, Germany, Sweden and Australia.

In addition to having written research papers and book chapters on several aspects of cat behaviour, cognition, welfare and nutrition, Sandra has lectured and advised many animal shelters, ethologists, animal welfarists, and groups of vets and vet nurses.

Sandra is sought out as a voice within industry and regularly speaks at international conferences on pet ownership issues and the bond between people and pets.

Today we’re talking to Sandra about pet cats, their incomplete domestication, our attachment to them and the behavioural links between wild big cats, and the cat in your home.

We also find out why cats like boxes!

Podcast

Books

Sandra McCune - why cats like boxes
Sandra McCune

McCune, S. (2010) Book chapter: ‘The domestic cat’. In: The UFAW handbook on the care and management of laboratory animals. 8th edition. Longman Scientific & Technical, Harlow.

McCardle, P, McCune, S, Griffin, J A and Maholmes, V (Eds.) (2011) How Animals Affect Us: Examining the Influence of Human-Animal Interaction on Child Development and Human HealthWashington, DC: American Psychological Association Press. 2011

Kurt Kotrschal, Jon Day, Sandra McCune and Manuela Wedl (2013) Human and cat personalities: building the bond from both sides. Chapter 9 In: Dennis Turner and Pat Bateson (Editors) The domestic Cat: The biology of its behaviour. CUP, Cambridge

Publications

Sandra McCune, Katherine A. Kruger, James A. Griffin, Layla Esposito, Lisa S. Freund, Karyl J. Hurley, and Regina Bures. (2014) Evolution of research into the mutual benefits of human–animal interactionAnimal Frontiers vol. 4 no. 3 49-5

Carri Westgarth, Lynne M Boddy, Gareth Stratton, Alexander J German, Rosalind M Gaskell, Karen P Coyne, Peter Bundred, Sandra McCune and Susan Dawson. (2013) Pet ownership, dog types and attachment to pets in 9–10 year old children in Liverpool, UK. BMC Veterinary Research, 9:102

Sandra McCune (1995)The impact of paternity and early socialisation on the development of cats’ behaviour to people and novel objects. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 45(1–2): 111–126.

Links

Waltham Human-Animal Interaction Research

Waltham Science Publications & Resources

Video – Why cats like boxes

Why cats like boxes

Header image via Flickr:klengel

Categories
Psychology

Positive psychology: identifying how we thrive

Dr. Pauleen Bennett is Director of Regional Operations in the School of Psychological Science at La Trobe University.

Pauleen combines her academic work at La Trobe with a range of community activities designed to improve human-companion animal relationships.

She leads a highly productive team of researchers at the Anthrozoology Research Group and is director and chair of the Australian Anthrozoology Research Foundation, a non-profit foundation set up to raise money to support students investigating the potential benefits for human health of engaging with companion animals.

Pauleen has adjunct appointments at Monash University and The Ohio State University (USA) and enjoys spending her free time hanging out on her farm with her dogs, horses and goats.

In this episode (#19) we talk to Pauleen about the exciting but relatively new field of positive psychology.

Podcast

Publications

Dr Pauleen Bennett- What is anthrozoology - positive psychology in animals
Dr. Pauleen Bennett

Bennett, P. C. (2013) Why science can’t really tell us whether pets are good for health. The Conversation.

King, T., Marston, L.C., and Bennett, P.C. (2012). Breeding dogs for beauty and behaviour: why scientists need to do more to develop valid and reliable behaviour assessments for dogs kept as companions. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 137, 1-12.

Bennett, P.C. (2010). Putting the pieces together: using science to improve relationships between people and their canine companions. Canine Science Forum, July 25-28, Vienna, Austria.

Bennett, P.C. (2010). People, pets and positive psychology (transcribed from Radio Australia). Second Australian Positive Psychology and Well-Being Conference, February 12-13, Caulfield, Victoria, Australia.

McGreevy, P.M., & Bennett, P.C. (2010). Challenges and paradoxes in the companion-animal niche. Animal Welfare, 19, 11-16

Many more publications available via Pauleen’s LaTrobe University Profile

Links

Anthrozoology Research Group | ARG on Facebook | ARG  on TwitterAARF on Twitter

Pauleen on YouTube for AARF

Dr. Pauleen Bennet on YouTube – What is Anthrozoology?

Header image: Flickr/bunchesandbits

Categories
Psychology

Sam Gosling: Animal personality

Sam Gosling is a psychologist based at the University of Texas at Austin in the USA.

His research interests include social perception, new methods of data collection online and cross-species work, where he examines how animals can inform theories of personality and social psychology.

We talked with Sam about how science can help us measure animal personality traits (non-human) across a number of species, including hyenas, dogs, and even invertebrates, like squid.

Podcast

Publications

Sam Gosling discusses animal personalities
Sam Gosling

Gosling, S. D., & John, O. P. (1999). Personality dimensions in nonhuman animals a cross-species reviewCurrent Directions in Psychological Science,8(3), 69-75.

Gosling, S. D. (2001). From mice to men: what can we learn about personality from animal research?. Psychological bulletin127(1), 45.

Gosling, S. D., & Vazire, S. (2002). Are we barking up the right tree? Evaluating a comparative approach to personality. Journal of Research in Personality,36(6), 607-614.

Gosling, S. D. (2008). Personality in Non‐human AnimalsSocial and Personality Psychology Compass2(2), 985-1001.

Sinn, D. L., Gosling, S. D., & Hilliard, S. (2010). Personality and performance in military working dogs: Reliability and predictive validity of behavioral tests. Applied Animal Behaviour Science127(1), 51-65.

Links

Gosling Lab at the University of Texas, Austin


Top image via Flickr/malingering

Categories
Animal Welfare Community

Healthy communities: dogs and people

Sophie Constable, Education Officer at Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities (AMRRIC), has training as a veterinarian, in Indigenous education, and in public health.

She has worked in the field in pet education programs in urban, rural and remote Indigenous communities.

In this episode of Human Animal Science, we chat to Sophie about her research exploring the place of dogs in modern Indigenous communities in Australia and how best to promote the mutual health of dogs and communities.

Podcast

Publications

Sophie Constable

Constable, S. E., Brown, G., Dixon, R. M., & Dixon, R. (2008). Healing the hand that feeds you: exploring solutions for Dog and Community Health and Welfare in Australian Indigenous culturesFaculty of Education-Papers, 219-229.

Constable, S., Dixon, R., & Dixon, R. (2010). For the Love of Dog: The Human Dog Bond in Rural and Remote Australian Indigenous Communities .Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactions of People & Animals23(4), 337-349.

Constable, S. E., Dixon, R. M., Dixon, R. J., & Toribio, J. A. (2013). Approaches to dog health education programs in Australian rural and remote Indigenous communities: four case studiesHealth promotion international,28(3), 322-332.

Links

AMRRIC

Aboriginal dog
Dogs in aboriginal indigenous communities
Dogs in aboriginal indigenous communities
Dogs in aboriginal indigenous communities
Images courtesy of AMRRIC
Categories
Community

Hope and freedom: Street dogs of Bosnia

Stephen Jenkinson is the United Kingdom’s only specialist in behavioural psychology and its practical application to influence the behaviour of walkers with dogs.

Stephen holds a Master of Science (MSc) and post-graduate Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling.

In 2013, the United Nations Development Program contacted International Fund for Animal Welfare for help in managing the issue of roaming dogs in Bosnia as a serious community safety issue.

Dog advocates had been attempting to control packs of street dogs through limited catch-sterilize-and-return programs or placing dogs into newly constructed shelters, but the programs were not working and people did not feel safe.

Bosnia needed a different approach – and that’s where Steve became involved…

Podcast

Links

International Fund for Animal Welfare: Partnering with UN Development Program to help dogs in Bosnia

Your Dog (Feb 2014) article: A better life for the Street dogs of Bosnia? By Stephen Jenkinson (PDF)

Publications

Lowe, C. N., Williams, K. S., Jenkinson, S., & Toogood, M. (2014). Environmental and social impacts of domestic dog waste in the UK: investigating barriers to behavioural change in dog walkers. International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 13(4), 331-347. (PDF)

Jenkinson, S. (2014) Commercial Dog Walkers in the Outdoors: Attitudes, Engagement and Opportunities (PDF)

Jenkinson, S. (2013) Planning for dog ownership in new developments: reducing conflict – adding value (PDF)

Images: Flickr/viciousbits

Categories
Psychology

Animal attraction & human animal interaction: positive youth development

Dr Megan Mueller is a developmental psychologist working in the Cummings School of veterinary medicine at Tufts University (USA).

Megan’s own passion for animals led her to scientifically examine the roles they play in human health and positive development for children, families and communities.

In this episode of Human Animal Science, we speak to Megan about her recent research looking at human animal interaction and positive youth development.

Podcast

Links

Megan Mueller - Animal attraction and human animal interaction
Megan Mueller

Megan Mueller – Tufts University Profile

Publications

Mueller, M. K. (2014). Is Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Linked to Positive Youth Development? Initial Answers. Applied Developmental Science18(1), 5-16.

Mueller, M. K. (2014). The Relationship between Types of Human–Animal Interaction and Attitudes about Animals: An Exploratory Study. Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactions of People & Animals27(2), 295-308.

Mueller, M. K. (2014). Human-Animal Interaction as a Context for Positive Youth Development: A Relational Developmental Systems Approach to Constructing Human-Animal Interaction Theory and Research. Human Development57(1), 5-25.

More of Megan’s publications via Google Scholar


Photo: Flickr/stuckincustoms

Categories
Therapy

Amazing tails: Reading with dogs

Dr Holly Lane is an Associate Professor in the School of Special Education, School Psychology and Early Childhood Studies at the University of Florida’s College of Education.

Her research focuses on literacy intervention and prevention of reading difficulties through effective early literacy instruction and teacher education.

Holly’s first observations as a classroom teacher with her own dog, Floyd, led her to notice how dogs helped to motivate students.

Fast forward to now, and she’s getting the opportunity to research the growing field of canine-assisted reading programs, with promising future directions.

Listen in and find out what she has to say about reading with dogs!

Podcast

Links

Dr. Holly Lane - Reading with dogs
Dr. Holly Lane

Holly Lane: University of Florida Profile

Lane, H. B., & Zavada, S. D. (2013). When Reading Gets Ruff: Canine‐Assisted Reading Programs.
The Reading Teacher, 67(2): 87-95.

Publications

Friesen, L. (2010). Potential for the role of school-based animal-assisted literacy mentoring programsLanguage and Literacy, 12(1): 21-37.

Smith, C. S. (2009). An Analysis and Evaluation of Sit Stay Read: Is the Program Effective in Improving Student Engagement and Reading Outcomes?. EdD Dissertation. National Louis University.

Going to the Dogs: Can a canine help your child learn to read? Psychology Today


Photo: Steven Pam | Smartshots Photography

Categories
Behaviour

Aggressive behaviour in dogs: science that bites

Dr Rachel Casey is a veterinary surgeon, animal behaviourist and welfare scientist working at the University of Bristol Veterinary School in the United Kingdom.

Rachel has a PhD in animal behaviour and leads a research group investigating aspects of companion animal behaviour and welfare.

Her recent research on aggressive behaviour in dogs has highlighted important new information regarding prevalence, risk factors and occurrence in difference contexts.

The findings might not be what you expect.

Podcast

Links

Rachel Casey’s Blog: Reigning Cats and Dogs

Follow Rachel on Twitter:  @DrRachelCasey

Publications

Casey, RA, Loftus, BA, Bolster, C, Richards, GJ & Blackwell, E-J 2013, ‘Inter-dog aggression in a UK owner survey: prevalence, co-occurrence in different contexts and risk factors’Veterinary Record, vol 172.

Casey, RA, Loftus, BA, Bolster, C, Richards, GJ & Blackwell, E-J 2013, ‘Human directed aggression in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris): occurrence in different contexts and risk factors’Applied Animal Behaviour Science.

Bradshaw, J, Blackwell, E & Casey, R 2009,Dominance in domestic dogs: useful construct or bad habit?’Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, vol 4., pp. 135 – 144

Why do dogs bite? The science behind aggressive behaviour in dogs

Image credit: Flickr/FredArmitage