Recently, ADUK had the privilege of attending an inspiring event hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group (APDAWG), The Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS), and Our Special Friends (OSF), celebrating the remarkable power of the human-canine bond. The gathering brought together experts, enthusiasts, and advocates to share insights into the profound relationship between humans and dogs and the many ways this bond is utilised to have transformative impact on lives, human and canine alike.

At the heart of the event were presentations from leading anthrozoology experts who shared their knowledge and experiences, and sector leaders who discussed utilising this work in a practice setting, developing and implementing Assistance and AAS programmes. We were thrilled to hear from Lucy Eldred, CEO Canine Partners, about some incredible partnerships who, through the power of the Canine Human bond (and incredible hard work from the training) showcased the fantastic work of ADUK members. We also heard from a variety of other speakers exploring the range of work dogs do across the UK, such as going into prisons, working in schools and in healthcare settings.

The event also focused on ensuring that the dog’s welfare is always key. For example, in a discussion on Dogs in Schools, it was noted that at times some dogs displayed undesirable behaviours – but this was often linked to bad practices, such as letting children overcrowd the dog, lack of downtime for the dog and the fact that increasingly, school dogs are cared for by a member of school staff, meaning they’re in the school and around the children all day.

Scattered amongst these fantastic demonstrations of the canine human bond at work, were academic talks from experts at Universities across the UK. These included research around animals in education and developing mutually beneficial dog-assisted learning programmes in prisons, alongside research into understanding, or lack of, dog body language, particularly among children – with a significant proportion interpreting teeth being shown as a smile. However, much of this research centred on interactions with dogs, highlighting the significant health and social benefits across all stages of life – provided people are educated and aware of the dog’s needs.

These initiatives are making a difference in the lives of older adults, children, psychiatric patients, and young offenders – demonstrating the therapeutic power of canine companionship. However, as emphasised by the speakers, the success of these programmes hinges on careful planning to ensure their sustainability, effectiveness, and the safety and welfare of both humans and animals.

One of the key topics discussed was SCAS’s ongoing work to update its Code of Practice for Animal-Assisted Services. This document provides guidance on safe and ethical interactions between humans and animals in these programmes. It also highlights the growing need for regulation in the field to protect everyone involved and to uphold the highest standards of care. This opened discussion into the interconnectedness of Assistance dogs and AAS, and whether there is common ground to be found in our aligned mission for Government regulations around standards.

The event’s thoughtful discussions extended into the evening, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Agria Pet Insurance, which provided an opportunity for attendees to connect over food and drinks at a nearby bar. It was a fantastic chance to continue conversations, share ideas, and forge new connections with others passionate about the human-animal bond.

Events like these are vital for driving forward the conversation about the power of human-canine relationships and the importance of ensuring that our work building on the Human Canine bond is safe and effective for humans and our canine friends alike.