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Impact of Dog Adoption and Training in Veterans With Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms and/or Other Mental Health Conditions

Assessment of Biopsychosocial Indicators Linked to Canine Intervention Treatment Response in Veterans With Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms and/or Other Mental Health Conditions

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

* Military veteran with self-reported posttraumatic stress symptoms and/or other mental health conditions
* Over 18 years of age
* Applied and approved to adopt a shelter dog for training through the Humane Society of Broward County in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
* English speaker (written and spoken)
* Home internet access via tablet, computer or smartphone.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Fear of dogs
* Allergies to pet dander
* Uncorrected hearing or visual impairment.

About the study

The goal of this single-arm study is to learn if a dog adoption and training program can treat, prevent in \[describe participant population/primary condition; could include any of the following: sex/gender, age groups, healthy volunteers\]. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does the dog adoption and training program decrease posttraumatic stress symptoms in veterans with self-reported posttraumatic stress symptoms? * Does the dog adoption and training program decrease stress and improve psychosocial health in veterans with self-reported posttraumatic stress symptoms? * Does the dog adoption and training program decrease inflammation, increase oxytocin, and change the structure and resting-state function of specific brain regions in veterans with self-reported posttraumatic stress symptoms?

Participants will:

* Attend eight one-hour professional dog training sessions within a 10-week period. * Visit the clinical research unit four times during the study for data collection.

What is being tested

• Dog training (other)

Sponsor: Florida Atlantic University · Participants: 120 · Started: Feb 9, 2026

Contact the study team

• Beth A Pratt, PhD · Phone: 561-297-4912

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07542431

Locations in the U.S.

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.