A recent study led by Florida Atlantic University, in collaboration with the University of Maryland School of Nursing, the Medical College of Georgia, and Warrior Canine Connection, Inc., has found that service dog training may help slow biological aging in female veterans. The research is among the first to focus on this group and examines both biological and psychological stress indicators.
Researchers worked with female U.S. veterans who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Instead of receiving service dogs, participants volunteered to train them for other veterans. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development.
To assess biological stress, the team measured telomere length using saliva samples and heart rate variability (HRV) with wearable monitors. Psychological stress was evaluated through questionnaires on PTSD symptoms, perceived stress, and anxiety at several points during the study.
The results, published in Behavioral Sciences, showed that those who trained service dogs experienced an increase in telomere length—a sign of slower cellular aging—especially among veterans with combat experience. In contrast, the control group, which watched dog training videos instead of participating directly in training, saw a decrease in telomere length. Both groups reported similar reductions in PTSD symptoms, anxiety, and perceived stress over eight weeks.
Cheryl Krause-Parello, Ph.D., associate vice president for FAU research and first author of the study said: “Female veterans face unique reintegration challenges that are often overlooked, and traditional PTSD treatments don’t always meet their needs. Nontraditional approaches like connecting with animals can offer meaningful support. These relationships provide emotional safety and stability, which can be especially powerful for women. But not all veterans can care for a service animal, so animal-related volunteerism may offer similar healing benefits without the burden of ownership.”
She added: “This research underscores the power of service dog training as a meaningful, non-pharmacological intervention to support the health and healing of female veterans with PTSD. It opens the door to more personalized approaches that nurture both the mind and body.”
Study co-authors include Erika Friedmann from University of Maryland School of Nursing; Deborah Taber from University of Maryland School of Nursing; Haidong Zhu from Medical College of Georgia; Alejandra Quintero from FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science; and Rick Yount from Warrior Canine Connection.
The findings indicate that volunteering to train service dogs could reduce physical effects of stress while offering emotional support for female veterans with PTSD.
