Heart rate variability predicts the stress in dogs during animal-assisted interventions

This dataset contains R-R interval (RRI) data, behavioral measures, and salivary cortisol concentrations collected from dogs participating in animal-assisted reading sessions. The dataset includes: RRI time series data for heart rate variability (HRV) analysis Salivary cortisol concentrations (µg/mL) Behavioral observations recorded during pre-session, session, and post-session phases Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) scores provided by dog owners A README file describing data structure, variable definitions, and preprocessing procedures RRI data were recorded using a wearable ECG device with a sampling frequency of 1000 Hz. Artifact correction and preprocessing were performed using Kubios HRV software under standardized settings. Behavioral data were collected using predefined ethological indicators to assess stress and relaxation states. C-BARQ was used to characterize temperament and behavioral tendencies of each dog. Further details on study design, data acquisition, and analysis methods are provided in the associated manuscript.