Paws for thought: dogs may boost social skills in kids with ADHD
NCT ID NCT05102344
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether adding a therapy dog to standard social skills training could help children with ADHD. Thirty-nine children took part, some receiving dog-assisted sessions and others only social skills training. Researchers measured ADHD symptoms, self-esteem, and stress hormone levels to see if the dogs made a difference.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Animal Assisted Intervention with dogs
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a non-drug option to help children with ADHD improve social skills and reduce symptoms.
What could go wrong
This was a small pilot study with only 39 children, so results may not apply to everyone. The benefits of adding a dog may be small or temporary.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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University of California, Irvine
Irvine, California, 92697, United States