Introduction: There is a growing interest in animal-assisted social work in Finland. However, academic field research is scant. The focus of this study is canine-assisted work in a residential setting with children in the Finnish child welfare system. In this context, canine-assisted work is planned and delivered by a social worker who is also the dog handler. The dog is trained, tested and certified. This study aims to observe and analyse canine-assisted work and the experience of children and staff.
Methodology: The study is influenced by the ethnographic research tradition. Participant observation and interviews were conducted during a two month period in the spring of 2016. Participants were observed for approximately 60 hours. Five children and twelve staff members, including the immediate supervisor and the canine-assisted provider, were individually interviewed. Other staff members were interviewed in a group. The interplay between different types of data features was essential in the analysis.
Main Results: In this study, canine-assisted work included structured activities and unstructured interactions with the dog simply being present in the child’s everyday environment. The results reveal individual differences in general attitudes towards animals and relationships with them. All of the children in this study had been exposed to traumatic experiences in the past, some of which included animals. Canine-assisted work had an overall positive impact on the environment in the residential setting. The staff experienced that the presence of the dog created a space where communication between the staff and the children was improved. The children could also project their needs and feelings onto the dog and discuss issues that have important parallels in their lives.
Principal Conclusion and Implications for Field: Animals can play a significant role in child welfare, and the presence of a dog can have a positive impact on the environment in a residential setting. In the planning and implementation of any form of canine-assisted work within the social work practice, the work needs to be carefully evaluated using a strong ethical lens and the wellbeing of both human and animal participants needs to be considered.