Could you please tell me how a service dog could help a child with Autism. What age do you recommend introducing the dog to the child? Can you have any other dogs in your home?
When we go out in public my son runs away. I was looking into a service dog to help keep my son safe. I did not know if a service dog could help my son stay on the sidewalk or just remind him to stay by me when we are walking in a store. I really do not really know what I am going to do when I cannot put my son in a stroller anymore.
As a proud parent to a child with autism and a service dog trainer for 20+ years, I would like to offer some advise to parents looking for a service dog for their child.
Check out the facility and make sure that they know what autism is and how it affect the child and the family life.---Check references see if others are happy with the dogs they received?---talk to area agencies to see if anyone in the facility has sought education on autism? --As a family, sit and write down your expectations for the dog. What are the things that you feel the dog would or should do for your child. Even if you do not know if a dog can be trained to do certain tasks. Education is power and make sure that your child will benefit from this intervention. Talk to health care and direct care workers, they should be able to offer something. Talk to various agencies that train these dogs, they should offer information. I spend a great deal of time talking to families, offering information on what to ask and how to check information. Just because they can train a dog does not mean that thye can train one for a child with autism. Our compnay is unique because we live both worlds and have educated ourselves and our staff on what is needed and how to help. Not every dog is suited for this purpose and the service dog flunk outs are not always appropiate either.
My soj is 3 and nonverbal . HE has been diagnosed pdd. He loves to run-he stims off of it. this terrifies me. How could a service dog help? I would like to jnow more of what specifically they can do for ASD kids. Thanks
I don't have all the answers re: autism and service dogs (I don't think anyone does) but I do have alot of experience and STILL LEARNING. I have spent the last 30+ years in the dog industry ( working for a vet., grooming, training, and showing) and the last 6 years helping my daughter raise her daughter ( almost 9 with autism). Back in 2001 ( i think) Washington State had just finished a 1 year study on therapy animals and autistics children. What they found ( visits were with a therapists and animal - all were dogs except 1 pig - 2 times a week for 1/2 hour each). When the study was completed, they noted that all of the kids had: started bonding, showed emotion, eye contact increased, some behaviors decreased, ones that were verbal increased in their communication, and the ones that were not verbal - started talking. So my thought was if a therapy dog can do this - what can a service dog do - there all the time? So we started looking for a service dog. At that time there were very few org. doing this, and many said Selena was to young (she had just turned 4), she was too disabled, or not disabled enough. And most places had at least a 2 year waiting list. So we decided to train our own service dog. That has taken a path of its own. We started searching for a dog, at that time we were in an apt. and both of us working, did not feel we wanted to do the puppy thing. I had contacts and various rescues and shelters, but was also very picky as to the breed and size of the dog. Some breeds just do not work well for service dogs (there is always the exception to the rule) but generally the working breeds, and some of the herding breeds work well. To make a GOOD service dog, you must have good breeding, and good training. We check out about 20 - 30 dogs, we visited 3, and ended up taking an 18 month old female, Australian Shepperd. Now, at that time Selena did not talk, just pointed and babbled. On Sat. afternoon we brought home Coho, on Sunday Selena woke up and SAID (clear as a bell) "Where's my dog." eye contact increased, and some behaviors decreased. A couple months later, we all were at the school track field (where we exercised the dog and Selena) Selena got a little to far ahead of us and was headed to an opening we did not want her to go to, so we were yelling at her to stop, of coerce she did not stop. Coho was closer to her and she ran an knocked Selena down - did not hurt her but did stoped her - until we got there. Coho was not trained to do this, but did it on instinct. Alot of dogs will gravitate to a child with a disability, we have seen this many times. But that does not mean they will make a good service dog.
Both of the above replies refer to the child bolting, as did Selena, we used a 2nd lead, around her waist, which she held onto. and a 2nd lead the adult used. Please understand the dog MUST be trained very well, for the safety of all to do this! But it is worth it. Having a trained service dog with Selena has helped her when she gets frustrated, Coho helps calm her, teaches her compassion, feeling, also helping take care of the dog, and many other things. It is all up to what the child's needs are, and to shape the behaviors of the dog to help. There are several web sites that can give you additional info. National Service Dog, ( in Canada) NorthStar foundation ( has a great book out called The Golden Bridge), 4pawsability. Just to name a few. There are a lot of ones that have popped up in the last 5-6 years, some good and some not so good. Check them out throughly!! Or you may want to train your own - please be advised that you will need some experience in dogs and training to do this, it is not easy, if you don't please find someone to help you that you trust and has the knowledge you need.
One last note: because ALL kids are different, and may or may not connect to a dog, also not every dog will work out well as a service dog. As I stated in the begining I don't have all the answers on service dog/autism, but am willing to help where I can, or direct to someone who has more info. Hope this helps in answering some of your questions.