Children & Youth with Disabilities Lab

Upcoming study dates

Corvallis, Summer 2023

• Assessments: 1 session once per family between July 17 and July 24
• Dog training classes: 1-hour sessions twice weekly (Tuesdays and Thursdays) from July 25 through August 24
• Assessments: 1 session once per family between August 25 and August 31

Seattle, Summer 2023

• Assessments: 1 session once per family between June 19 and June 30
• Dog training classes: 1-hour sessions twice weekly (Mondays and Wednesdays) from July 10 through August 9.
• Assessments: 1 session once per family between August 14 and August 25

More info at Seattle details.

Portland, Summer 2023

• Assessments: 1 session once per family between July 10 and July 14
• Dog training classes: 1-hour sessions twice weekly (Tuesdays and Thursdays) from July 17 through August 24, except the week of July 24-29.
• Assessments: 1 session once per family between August 28 and August 31

More info at Portland details.

1st assessment

Participation begins with an initial assessment. During that assessment, guardians will fill out questionnaires and verbally answer questions about themselves, their dog, and their child. Children will also complete questionnaires and participate in simple behavioral assessments, along with their dog.

Groups

After these assessments, each child and dog pair will be randomly assigned to one of two groups, the “intervention group” and the “waitlist control group”.

Intervention group

The intervention group will receive 10 sessions of individualized training in the Do as I Do (DAID) dog training method. Each session lasts about one hour, and each child has their own personal trainer(s) who works one-on-one with only them and their dog.

Waitlist control group

The waitlist control group will not attend the dog training program but will be offered the opportunity to attend the following year.

2nd assessment

After the dog training class program study ends, all participants, including those in the waitlist control group, are asked to return for a second assessment that is very similar to the first.

3rd assessment

All participants are also asked to return one year later for a third assessment. At that time, children in the control group will be invited to participate in the dog training program study. Those who attend will be asked to return for a fourth and final assessment immediately after finishing the program.

Gift cards

At each assessment, participants are given a $25 gift card.

Location

The intervention dog training program takes place during winter, spring, and summer quarters at Oregon State University in Corvallis and also in Portland and Seattle during summer.

Contact

For more information please contact:

saethra-darling-220px.jpg

Program Manager
Saethra Darling, PhD
darlings@oregonstate.edu
(541) 737-8117