Autism Service Dogs - Info/ Advice Please | Autism PDD
We are on a waiting list for a service dog for Mason-although this is for seizures--the wait is well over 5 years right now...and not for funding, for the actual dog!
Here is what I was told...first and foremost a service dog is trained to work...so with other siblings it can be difficult because these dogs don't get played with or get treats the same way other dogs do. They can be very beneficial, but that was the biggest concern, for us anyway.
Second, if you are looking more for a companion, it is best to just get a puppy and go that route. Again, because of the above statement. We researched and researched before we got our puppy. We wanted him more for a companion than anything else. The company we are going through for the epilepsy dog uses only golden retrievers. In the end we went that route too.
He is absolutely wonderful with not just Mason, but all the kids! He is so loving and caring!! But he loves attention...when we are home he is always by us, sleeping at our feet, or following us every where we go! But that being said he is also very good when we aren't home. We do have a gate for the kitchen, that we keep him in there when we are gone...just because, he is a puppy, and loves to chew!!!!!! But he rarely gets into anything...never has accidents, and is just happy when we get home.
In our experience with retrievers, there are several in our neighborhood, I was told they are easy to house train and easy to teach all around. When we got Mojo, he was exactly that!
Downsides--he is getting big, so that means more walks, more shedding (he sheds A LOT) and more drool, lol!
Good luck, I hope you find the right puppy for you!
That's the plus side for Tiny - he's going to be 100 # (that's what the vet said and he's trained lots of seeing eye dogs) we got a medium hair who doesn't shed much - he loves to be brushed and so Payne sits down with a brush and goes at it...they both love it. We don't have to do it often. Tiny gets walked around the block when dh feels like going outside...otherwise he's content to walk around our house...sleep at our feet...cuddle up in bed with Payne. He was completely house broken , crate trained when we got him at 2 months old. Where ever Payne is that is where he wants to be until Payne goes to bed (and Tiny's helped tuck him in) and then he's with us...he goes back and forth between us.Yes, us too--we wouldn't have been able to go with a little dog...Mason likes to lay his head on Mojo, uses him as a pillow, lol. Only a dog as big as Mojo would have worked for that!
And yes, the shedding is a pain, but Mason loves to brush him...and the walking too, I'm just whining cuz I have to do it during the day, lol!
I JUST spoke with my landlord today about a service dog for my son. She said all she needs is a doctors note to O.K. it - there are no pets of any kind allowed here as our apartments are extremely nice.My son is high functioning (basically Aspergers but he has also gotten a PDD-NOS dx from a nuero)but he is having a really hard time making friends at school 7 has been having a lot of anger problems this year. I thought a dog might help him be more emotional, learn to control his anger a little bit and give him a "friend" so he doesn't feel so lonely. I would also like him to be able to have the dog help him as he gets older with independence as I am pretty over bearing with him because I worry about his safety.
Do you think I need to shell out a lot of $$ on a dog that is specially trained for this or do you think I could just find a puppy of a good breed for these qualities and take it to some kind of training class? We do not have a lot of money, I could probably manged -400 for the dog if I barrow from family & keep up with food & vet bills, but I just do not have thousands to plop down on a service dog. What do you think? I do not know much about dogs so I will really be starting from square one here, having to learn about how to care for them & such. Also we have an 1100 square foot apartment, spacious but 2 bedroom with no fenced yard so that is a factor to keep in mind. I would also need a dog who can be left by themselves during the day while I am at work when I start back to work again, without getting lonely. Do you think this is a possibility?
ETA - they have the same rights as the service dogs (from the ADA standpoint) from what I understand as far as housing...not sure on the public places/planes thing. I'm getting Tiny a service vest that states that he is a therapy dog.
LOL! Chippers gets taken for a clipping every 6 weeks, but he really isn't a fu-fu dog AT ALL! He's all "boy", very playful, and not too bright! When I picked Nick up after he had visitation with his father over the summer, Nick wasn't interested in seeing his brothers ... he just said "see Chippers?". Too cute.
She thought she was a PRINCESS and that she should be treated as such...that we should ignore Payne for her. AWFUL! I think after telling dh for years that I prefer bigger dogs that he has come to the conclusion that we are a BIG dog family.
haha....yea, it has helped me get out and walk more...which truthfully I should be doing anyway. I used to have a very demanding job...running around a lot...now I sit in a office chair and don't get up till it's time to leave... ((blowing cheeks out)) that hasn't helped.
Ok, I looked in to this a while ago and was told the same thing about Abby. I think one of the main breeds that they use are Golden Retrievers. But, I would def. recommend a German Shepherd. I had one about 2years ago when Abby was a baby. They are very smart, loyal and awesome with children. Raise them from the time they are puppies and your son will have a true companion. Also, even though I know money is always tight, there are people who can come out and help train the dog in certain ways I believe for kids with special needs.
In two years after one of the kids are out of daycare we are going to get another dog and it will be a German Shepherd.
I got a bichon for my family, and it was a great decision! We brought him home 6 or 7 months ago, and Nick just adores him. I also considered a service dog, but our family really didn't need one ... just a "buddy."We had a bichon when we got Tiny - she was more for my dh - he loved bichons - the little fu-fu grooming nightmare that she was. Payne didn't like her...one of my bf's found out that she has breast cancer (currently going thru the beginning stages of chemo) and she LOVED Abby - so I gave her Abby thinking that Abby would be a good distraction while she was going thru all of this...her mom keeps track of the dog during the day.
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