Date
5-20-2026
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Cynthia Edins
Keywords
AAT, canines, equines, mental health
Disciplines
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Montano, Sarah E., "Canine and Equine Behaviors in Therapy: An Exploratory Multiple Case Study" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8477.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8477
Abstract
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) utilizes animals in the treatment of clients with mental health disorders. Dogs and horses are often used in this modality, but studies have not explored the use of these two types of animals in AAT to discover if there are similarities and differences in the behaviors the animals display during therapeutic sessions. The present study utilized interviews with clinicians providing canine-assisted therapy or equine-assisted therapy to investigate similarities and differences. The interviews were audio and video recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes regarding the behaviors of the animals. The analysis showed apparent similarities and differences between the animals’ behaviors, and the four functions of attachment theory were reported by participants in both groups. It seemed that the themes mainly differed in how much they were mentioned by participants between groups rather than a complete absence of a theme in either group. Acceptance, physical presence, and self-regulation themes were common in both groups. The use of metaphor and mirroring appeared more often in the equine group, while greeting behaviors and empathy building appeared more often in the canine group. The results lend support to both past research and attachment theory. However, as a qualitative study utilizing a theoretical approach to thematic analysis, there were limitations. Sampling bias, preconceived coding during analysis, the inability to fully replicate the study given its subjective nature, and the inability to demonstrate causation were all limitations of the study. Future research should investigate the topics of the study to provide quantitative and more expansive qualitative data for the field of AAT with dogs and horses.
