Dog-assisted therapy and motor coordination in children with autism spectrum disorder: an exploratory pre–post study

= 3.45). Based on age-specific cutoffs, 57% of participants shifted from an "indicative/suspect" to a "typical" motor coordination range. Attendance was high, and no adverse events were reported. A 12-week dog-assisted therapy program was associated with marked improvements in parent-reported motor coordination in children with ASD. Although findings are preliminary and limited by the uncontrolled design and reliance on parent report, they support further evaluation of DAT in controlled trials incorporating objective motor outcomes.