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Exploring relational and humanizing processes in a structured shelter dog programme: A qualitative study in
1School of Nursing, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain.
Background:
Long-stay psychiatric rehabilitation units often struggle to provide emotionally meaningful and person-centred care because of institutional routines and limited opportunities for therapeutic engagement. Innovative relational interventions may help promote emotional connection and support more humanized models of psychiatric rehabilitation.
Objective:
To explore the emotional and relational processes observed during a structured shelter dog programme in a long-stay psychiatric rehabilitation setting and to examine how these processes were perceived to contribute to the humanization of care.
Methods:
A descriptive qualitative study was conducted using participant observation across eight intervention sessions, one focus group with healthcare professionals, and one semi-structured interview with the dog handler. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis framework.
Results:
Three themes emerged: (1) Emotional reawakening, describing renewed emotional expression and positive affect; (2) The dog as a relational bridge, illustrating how the dogs facilitated interpersonal communication and therapeutic engagement; and (3) Shared humanity and relational care, reflecting enhanced relational awareness, professional reflection, and a more person-centred experience of care.
Conclusions:
Participants perceived the shelter dog programme as a meaningful relational intervention that promoted emotional engagement, interpersonal connection, and more humanized psychiatric care. These findings suggest that structured relational interventions involving carefully selected shelter dogs may complement recovery-oriented psychiatric rehabilitation. Further research should explore patient perspectives, longer-term outcomes, and implementation across different mental health settings.