Blood cortisol indicators and workload in canistherapy dogs
Blood serum cortisol level was measured in 5 therapy assisting dogs (3 Siberian huskies, 1 golden retriever, 1 mixed breed dog) before and after their work sessions at the beginning of a working season and 2 months after the beginning. An average cortisol level for first measurements was 1.33 ug/dL (SD 0.42, max 1.99, min 0.89); meanwhile, after an animal assisted therapy session, the cortisol level increased to 1.47 (SD 0.52, max 2.28, min 0.95). After 2 months of a working season, before a therapy session, an average cortisol level was 1.35 (SD 0.45, max 2.05, min 0.90); meanwhile, after an animal assisted therapy session, the cortisol level increased to 1.40 (SD 0.48, max 2.11, min 0.91). The results showed that the cortisol level after having a therapy class increased less in two months compared with the initial situation. It shows how well dogs adapt to theoretically stressful conditions and feel no more long-lasting stress. Another experiment was carried out for eight weeks with two Siberian huskies in order to estimate the workload (completed distances) of animals during therapy working sessions compared with their usual daily walking and sled sports training. The results revealed that during the therapy work with children dogs covered 12% to 22% of all their usual daily distance. Such workload for dogs is not high, does not exceed their daily physical activity and does not endanger their welfare.