Volume : 4, Issue : 10, October - 2015

A pilot study demonstrating that a dog trainer in a non-clinical setting can effectively treat children with a fear of dogs (cynophobia)

Dr Annie Swanepoel, Ms Monica Quercioli

Abstract :

<p>Aims and Method: The Essex Dog Training Centre developed a program to help children with a fear of dogs. Our pilot study sought to describe this method and to investigate whether an unqualified dog trainer in a non-clinical setting is able to help children overcome their cynophobia. A self-selected sample of 28 children participated in a repeated measures study design. Participants completed a Dog Phobia Questionnaire, which we adapted for children, at the start and end of the intervention. Results: The repeated measure t-tests on aggregate scores of start (mean 30.25, SD 16.98) and end points (mean 60.29, SD 11.8) showed that the difference was highly significant (p&lt;0.001). Multiple regression analyses confirmed that the intervention accounted for at least 64% of the change in scores. Clinical implications: This is the first study to show that children with cynophobia can be treated successfully in a dog training centre by nontherapists.</p>