In therapy settings across the globe, dogs are trusted partners in healing. They sit beside children learning to read, comfort veterans battling posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and offer a calming presence in hospitals and nursing homes. Their impact on human well-being is profound, but what about the well-being of the dogs themselves?

A new study sheds light on an often-overlooked question: How does the type of physical contact humans have with dogs in therapy sessions affect the welfare of therapy dogs? Specifically, the research explores how forced versus free-choice touch impacts canine behavior, offering fresh insight into the importance of agency in animal-assisted interventions (Sarrafchi, et al, 2025).

The human-animal bond is a two-way street, but too often, therapy dogs are expected to tolerate prolonged physical contact without much say in the matter. Unlike........

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