# The evaluation of a multi-site novel imitation based animal assisted intervention for children with developmental disabilities and their family dog

> **NIH NIH R01** · OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $360,746

## Abstract

Project Summary/ Abstract
This R01 application will provide a multidisciplinary One Health approach to an imitation-based physical
activity intervention for adolescents with developmental disabilities and their family dog. The novel inter-
vention approach includes the use of the family dog in an established dog training protocol, focused on
physical activity and aimed at improving physical activity, quality of life and social wellbeing for children
with developmental disabilities. The study team has tested the feasibility of this program and their
preliminary findings have revealed phyiscal and social-emotional improvements in children with
developmental disabilities following this animal assisted intervention. There has been relativeily limited
research focused on the physical activity of adolescents with developmental disabilities and there re-
mains a critical need to develop strategies that will encourage an active lifestyle for adolescents with de-
velopmental disabilities. Animal assisted therapy has known positive impacts on morale and is also
known to reduce depressive psychological symptoms for children and adults. Yet, traditional ‘service
dogs’ are prohibitively expensive for many families. Dog ownership alone is known to improve health-
related physical activity. Thus, a critical need exists to create physical activity interventions that are easily
accessible and provide manageable home-based physical activity adherence, but that are less expensive
than traditional service dogs. To achieve these goals the investigators of this project have developed the
following specific aims: 1) To evaluate a novel imitation-based dog training program to promote physical
activity in children with developmental disabilities; 2) To evaluate the impact of participation in an
imitation-based dog-training program on the child’s quality of life, feelings of social wellbeing and the
child-dog relationship; 3) To evaluation the human-animal-interaction of the child and the family dog
based on participation in the program. The long term goal of this research is to improve the lives of
adolescents with developmental disabilities. This research supports the One Health initiative and brings
together aspects of improving health related to human and animal development.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10136655
- **Project number:** 5R01HD101098-02
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Megan I MacDonald
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $360,746
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-04-01 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10136655

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10136655, The evaluation of a multi-site novel imitation based animal assisted intervention for children with developmental disabilities and their family dog (5R01HD101098-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10136655. Licensed CC0.

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