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Autism Service Dogs

A

Adria Lafferty

New Member
Hello everyone! I'm a professional dog trainer and Registered Nurse. I have grown up around many people with autism or spectrum disorders. My mother and two sisters work with children with autism every single day as therapists. I was wondering what the demand is for service dogs, how you all feel about them, what you would like to see with them, etc. I was thinking of starting some training for autism service dogs, but want to get an idea of what you all would want or need. Any information is greatly appreicated!!
 
I like the idea, but I wouldn't need a service dog for anything. I'd just want one because I love animals.
 
You could train them to lead the person away from noise, while avoiding traffic. Teach them to speak as that can relieve stress sometimes. Dogs that cuddle and lay by their side. Teach it how to defend the autist if say they get jumped from the bushes. Those are some ideas.
 
That's a great thread (&initiative) to start, thank you, Adria!
I think some of the training that service and emotional support dogs receive for dealing with anxiety/PTSD would come handy, because that's a comorbidity for many of us. Between panic attacks, or a strong dislike of crowds, places that are too bright/too loud, there are many opportunities for a dog to help out.

Aside from that, I guess it depends on the level of difficulties that people face in their life. For some, a dog that's able to help with some small tasks might be welcome, while for others it might not be necessary.

I wish I could provide more input, but I'm not well-versed enough in service dogs, and I also secretly would love a service cat (although mine seems to have taken on the role of at least emotional support cat, but I dream of being able to train him to come help calm me down when I'm in the middle of a meltdown and crying).
 
Since it's comorbid with depression, anxiety and PTSD many times, some training for these problems could be implemented. Also, I would like it to start 'leading' me when I feel distressed. As a child I felt slightly safer when following a person or animal I (almost) trusted in noisy or new surroundings. Maybe also a bit about directions and coming back to the closest landmark seen before, since it's really easy to get lost when you're overhelmed. Definitely cuddle. It's so much nicer and easier to cuddle a dog. Or a cat.
 
I would call them an "emotional support dog", when I took our new Golden Retriever puppy in for his shots, he was so well behaved, not a single bark where as all the other dogs were barking thier heads off. A lady seen my autism T shirt and asked if he was my emotional support dog. And while he has no specific training, just the typical good natured Golden Retriever. I told her that he was just that. Both him and my Beagle love to cuddle and they seem to know when I have had a bad day or need to snuggle and they do just that. It does really help me calm down and feel better when either of them do this. Mike
 
I am currently training an emotional support dog. Her name is Sabella. She is very good with calming me down and waking me up before a panic attack hits. She helps me with anxiety and her training is going very well. I have never trained a service dog before, so I am taking classes with Sabella through an agency. It has been lots of fun. Sabella and I love working together and learning everything we can to make a good team.
I love the idea of service dogs for people because the dogs are very caring about those they are helping. Even my puppy is demonstrating that. I never realized that dogs were this way until I actually got a dog. Now I am very happy with my emotional support dog and would recommend it for others.
 
The ideal support dog for me would be a dog that would just be at my side. I wouldn't need the dog to do anything but wuv me if I'm feeling anxious or scared, to calm me down. As it stands, I have to go home to get the dog-wuv that washes away my tension and anxiety.

My therapist (autism specialist) says there's a great demand for this type of service dog, so there's that for you. I'd like to see a future where you don't just see an autistic person, you see an autistic person and their dog.
 
I wish the UK recognised service animals as they're excellent, but for many autistic people they don't need a dog or cat to do anything special, except be a normal cat or dog.


Katleya said:
The following article is about a girl and her therapy cat, but hear me out: I'm sure dogs would be even easier to train to bring a toy, or to assist in bathtime & similar tasks; there's probably some inspiration to be taken from that and applied to dogs.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3491674/Autistic-six-year-old-paints-cycles-SWIMS-tabby-feline-helped-voice.html
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Most cats hate the water, although most animals can naturally swim if they have to, in fact even we can swim naturally and new born babies will attempt to swim, but for some reason we usually unlearn it as we get a little older and have to relearn it again.

I get on with my cat better than with most people, the worst thing about animals such as cats and dogs however is they get old much faster than we do and then we have to suffer the grief of their demise which I went through with my previous cat a couple of years ago and I still think of her now (she died of cancer). I can't imagine how hurt the little girl will be and she probably still won't be that old when her feline friend reaches old age.
 
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Katleya said:
The following article is about a girl and her therapy cat, but hear me out: I'm sure dogs would be even easier to train to bring a toy, or to assist in bathtime & similar tasks; there's probably some inspiration to be taken from that and applied to dogs.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3491674/Autistic-six-year-old-paints-cycles-SWIMS-tabby-feline-helped-voice.html
Click to expand...
With autism you trade talents for one super talent. Yeah. I'd say from my own experience it was worth it. It is encouraging to hear about others having talent because of autism. Thanks for that - have a star.
 
I think autistic people benefit from the companionship of animals in general, also patting/stroking them and the ritual of feeding them and taking them out for a walk.

I think that a larger dog such as a labrador is better for it's friendly nature, and because smaller dogs tend to bark a lot and have a high-pitched bark that can be disturbing for autistic people who have sound sensitivity. A dog that barked too much or at inappropiate times is hard to cope with. The dog would need to be toilet trained, as that might be difficult for some autistic people with olfactory sensitivity to deal with, and be trained not to jump up unexpectedly.
 
Progster said:
I think autistic people benefit from the companionship of animals in general, also patting/stroking them and the ritual of feeding them and taking them out for a walk.

I think that a larger dog such as a labrador is better for it's friendly nature, and because smaller dogs tend to bark a lot and have a high-pitched bark that can be disturbing for autistic people who have sound sensitivity. A dog that barked too much or at inappropiate times is hard to cope with. The dog would need to be toilet trained, as that might be difficult for some autistic people with olfactory sensitivity to deal with, and be trained not to jump up unexpectedly.
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Not for me. Big dogs terrify me. Was bitten by a neopaleon mastiff as a kid in the arm.
 
one the is big, not to big, but big enough. longer hair. has to be cute, can't froget that. and extremely cuddly. Dogs are a giant stim bag. Just a good family dog is sometimes the only thing need
 
I can only imagine the training of a service dog may have to be specifically targeted to a users needs?

The spectrum of Autism is so broad, one user may require their service dog to do or help with such and such whilst I myself require something completely different from my own dogs. (I consider myself high functioning and able bodied)

Perhaps look along the PAT dogs training route?

I don't know enough or have experience of the ways in which autism affects all those on the spectrum in its varying degrees to be able to offer any great suggestions. I think you would be more knowledgeable in that area?

Just as a quick example, a male cousin of mine is affected by autism in an extreme way. He wouldn't be capable of any sort of independence, even with a dog. He needs humans to care for him or he wouldn't function at all (eating, toilet, dressing, washing)

A 2 year old nephew of mine is very able, extremely knowledgeable way beyond his young age (astoundingly so) is only just starting to engage in some small conversations with family, put one of our cats or dogs in the same room with him and he is expressively excited and delighted. He will engage with the animals and stop talking to the rest of us ...unless the words we use are about the cats and dogs.

I'm not clairvoyant but could guess that at some point in that young man's future cats and dogs will be comforting to him in some way?

I myself am uncomfortable (and sometimes offensive) relating to people in general in real time if I'm not sure of the purpose.
I need a context, for example, work. At work I have a ton of scripts and can play the roles of colleague, problem solver, customer service and so on.

I've had my Dobermann for 10 years. I'm going to guess he has some Labrador in his lineage because he's a very well socialised, gentle soul or "bomb-proof" as opposed to a full on, dynamic Dobermann. (It's taken a lot of work and socialising but he had the perfect temperament)

We completed in some flyball together but that was just to enhance his obsession with air Kong, squeaky tennis balls - I've manipulated his prey drive onto tennis balls. Some folk would suggest it's not good for a dog to be obsessed with tennis balls but in the ten years we've worked together that tennis ball has prevented all manner of possible situations off lead. (Distance recall is phenomenal, focus is immediate and intense) the obsession with my tennis ball has probably saved his life on more than one occasion.

I find I can and will chitty chat to complete strangers I encounter on our walks, they either want to say hello and fuss him or they'll walk with us and our dogs will enjoy some free running together. If the conversations I have stay on the subject of how amazing dogs are I can engage happily with other 'dog' people.

There are also the times I don't feel able to talk to anyone. I can withdraw for a time. Shut down. My boy doesn't need any words or explanations. 10 years together and he can read me like a book. He'll stay by my side and is perfectly content to just "be".

(I've found humans require explanations and labels for feelings at these times which can be difficult to produce, my dog couldn't give a monkey's and probably prefers quiet, just as long as he's with me (through attachment/bond, or duty? Who knows?)

I don't always recognise when I'm over doing things and becoming overwhelmed (potential for melt down) my dog does. He can seem a little wary, distant.
He isn't afraid of me, my drive and possible 'obsessing' is making him a little uncomfortable (?) Wary (?) I use that as a signal to check in with myself. Re evaluate, calm or slow things down. Question what I'm doing.

He isn't in any way an official service dog but we've spent a lot of time together and without actually realising (until approximately two years ago) I am somewhat dependent on him. If I try to imagine how I may have coped in certain situations without him around my mind draws a blank.

If I could package the benefits I've been fortunate enough to experience in the company of my boy and offer it to another just like myself, I'd do it in a heart beat.
I like your idea @Adria Lafferty and hope you find a solution and a workable way of training Autism Service Dogs.

I'm a huge fan of detail and specifics. In the way a guide dog is to assist someone with sight deficit, An assistance dog may be required to load a washing machine or retrieve items for a less able bodied person, A PAT dog maybe useful to lower blood pressure, enhance well being, encourage children to engage and so on. The Autism Spectrum is so broad that I'm struggling to narrow down the dogs general purpose and what maybe required of a dog ?

Broad spectrum, what works for one may not be applicable to another. General PAT training may not be suitable for all users?

(Apologies for a wordy post, it triggered one of my 'interests' :)

Ooo .... Loss.

Unfortunately dogs don't live as long as humans, the loss of such a companion animal will be a factor (for an Aspie) :\
 
the_tortoise said:
Service animals are usually classified differently than pets -- they would usually be legally exempt from no-pets policies, as a matter of human rights.
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It's not like that yet in the UK unless they're specifically guide dogs which are virtually only for the blind, unfortunately it's still up to the establishment at the moment for autistic people and anyone else who need an animal for other support when it's not directly classed as a guide dog, unless the law changes and I wish it would. I know it's better in the USA.

Edit: For instance I've even had c**p from my landlord for having a cat which is a great support for anxiety and company, it was recommended and now I feel I get on much better with my cat than people. I have fought them because they have allowed some people to have animals in my area that aren't even support animals on the fact they'd be prejudice under equal rights not to allow me too as they didn't have any good specific reason to deny me. This was a couple of years ago, I stood my ground under threats from a manager and they didn't dare take me to court, but it was stressful nevertheless as I was half expecting court papers. This just shows how c**p it is in the UK, but there is a lot of support for legalising service animals for more than just the blind.
 
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