{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,11]],"date-time":"2026-10-11T06:37:05Z","timestamp":1791700625766,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":56,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,9]],"date-time":"2024-12-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1733702400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Children"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background and Objectives: Animal-assisted therapies have been utilized in various profiles to improve people\u2019s quality of life. This systematic review aims to assess the impact of dog-assisted therapies (DAT) on children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The benefits provided, the feasibility of implementation, and potential limitations are analysed. Methods: An exhaustive search was carried out in the following databases: Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, ERIC, PubMed, PubPsych, CINAHL, PsycInfo and Dialnet. The procedure was preregistered on PROSPERO. Results: This review included 19 scientific articles. Of these, 84% suggest that DAT has a positive impact on communication and social interaction during the development of children and adolescents diagnosed with ASD. The dog is often perceived as a communication facilitator that serves as a reinforcer, capturing the individual\u2019s attention. Emotional benefits have also been reported, including reducing stereotyped and self-harming behaviours. Additionally, an increase in smiling frequency and self-esteem levels was observed. Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of DAT as a component of socio-educational intervention for children and adolescents diagnosed with ASD. However, further research is necessary due to the limited sample sizes in the studies reviewed.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/children11121499","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,9]],"date-time":"2024-12-09T04:01:37Z","timestamp":1733716897000},"page":"1499","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["The Impact of Dog-Assisted Therapy Among Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-7671-8558","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paula","family":"Galvany-L\u00f3pez","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Basic Psychology Department, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, Universitat de Val\u00e8ncia, 46010 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3305-2996","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Manuel","family":"Mart\u00ed-Vilar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Basic Psychology Department, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, Universitat de Val\u00e8ncia, 46010 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0842-4986","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sergio","family":"Hidalgo-Fuentes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Basic Psychology Department, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, Universitat de Val\u00e8ncia, 46010 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1364-1731","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Javier","family":"Cabedo-Peris","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Basic Psychology Department, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, Universitat de Val\u00e8ncia, 46010 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"American Psychiatric Association (2023). 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