Personality and emotional stability in dogs assessed for animal-assisted services: Exploratory findings from APWA-ICofA

Abstract

Background : Dogs working in animal-assisted services (AAS) must be emotionally stable, socially appropriate, and able to cope with diverse and potentially demanding environments. However, standardized, welfare-centered tools for evaluating canine suitability remain limited. This study examined associations between demographic and affective variables and outcomes on the Animal Personality and Welfare Assessment (APWA-ICofA), an ethology-based assessment designed to support welfare-informed selection of dogs for AAS. Methods : Data were collected from 634 dogs assessed using the standardized APWA-ICofA protocol between July 2022 and December 2025. Descriptive analyses were conducted to examine emotional stability outcomes across demographic groups, including breed, age, sex, and neuter status, and to describe observed positive affect. Results : Emotional stability outcomes varied across demographic groups. Differences were observed among breeds and age categories, while sex showed modest associations with assessment outcomes and neuter status showed little apparent relationship. Dogs rated as emotionally stable also tended to display stronger indicators of positive affect. Conclusion : Findings support the importance of individual, personality-based assessment rather than reliance on breed stereotypes when identifying dogs for AAS. The results suggest that the APWA-ICofA may provide a useful welfare-centered component of candidate selection and highlight the value of incorporating positive affect indicators into assessment practices.