Labrador Retrievers, Border Collies and Miniature Schnauzers are among the best therapy dog breeds for children with autism, new research has found. Providing safety and companionship, these pups help promote positive changes in behaviour, reduce anxiety and offer a calming focus.
Dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs are not just cute companions, they're also great for helping autistic children with their social and emotional development.
An autism assistance dog or autism service dog is an assistance dog trained to assist a person with autism to help them gain independence and the ability to perform activities of daily living similar to people without autism.
While there is still much to learn about autism in humans, we do know that it can occur in dogs as well. Like with humans, dogs with autism may exhibit a range of behaviors, including social withdrawal, unresponsiveness to people or surroundings, and hyperactivity.
If we're thinking of getting a dog, is there a particular breed that's best for kids with ADHD? It's important to look for a dog that is tolerant, gentle, and trainable. Labrador and golden retrievers are popular family dogs for these reasons.
Signs that a Dog is Detecting ADHD
Dogs can use their sense of smell to detect an increase in sweat production. This tells your dog that you are active and getting anxious or fidgety. Your dog can provide help with this by being calm and consistent for you.
Border collie
This highly energetic and hardworking herder regularly tops the list of smartest dog breeds. As with most other intelligent, active dogs, border collies need a job and the opportunity to work. While they require considerable time and energy, border collies are immensely fun and loyal family members.
Dogs can be wonderful pets and companions for children with autism. Dogs provide the kind of unconditional companionship and friendship that can help a child with autism build social skills and confidence.
Some autism service dogs are trained to recognize and gently interrupt self-harming behaviors or help de-escalate an emotional meltdown. For instance, it might respond to signs of anxiety or agitation with a calming action such as leaning against the child (or adult) or gently laying across his or her lap.
Inheritance. ASD has a tendency to run in families, but the inheritance pattern is usually unknown. People with gene changes associated with ASD generally inherit an increased risk of developing the condition, rather than the condition itself.
People with autism often have fears that are making their daily lives very complicated. A dog can help them feel safer in many situations and improve their anxiety. It's extremely useful for stressful situations, starting school and so on.
If you would like to 'owner' train your assistance/service dog, meaning you train your dog to be an assistance/service dog, you will need to be capable of doing this. This means you will need to be physically and mentally able to do this training with the dog and also take on the responsibility of owning a dog.
Autism is a neurological developmental disability with an estimated prevalence of one to two percent of the American and worldwide population. The diversity of the disability means that each person's individual experience of autism and needs for supports and services can vary widely.
Your child with autism may enjoy having a pet nearby. It may help reduce anxiety and give him/her a sense of companionship. Many children with pets show an increase in self-confidence as well.
Social situations may be extremely stressful for children with autism. Pets can provide a familiar source of comfort and have a calming effect on the children in day to day situations and especially so in social settings. Pets also help children with autism develop a positive sense of self.
An animal can provide companionship, friendship, reduce loneliness and alleviate anxiety. It can be easier for a person with autism to interact with an animal because an animal is nonverbal and non-judgemental. Owning a pet can also foster responsibility in children.
An autism assistance dog works with a team leader – usually a parent, and wears a harness that is discreetly attached to a child. The assistance dog helps to regulate walking speed and is trained to respond to bolting or other unsafe behaviours that are common in many autistic children.
Depending on the needs of the child, these dogs are trained to provide tactile or deep pressure stimulation for sensory needs, maintain personal boundaries, and assist with a variety of daily tasks. These dogs are sometimes called Sensory Processing Disorder Dogs.
To qualify for a service animal, all you need to do is get written documentation from your healthcare provider that you have and are being treated for an emotional or psychiatric disorder or disability and require the assistance of an animal because of it.
They reduce stress & anxiety
Studies also found that petting a dog for 15 minutes can lower your blood pressure by 10%. For children with autism, this is a powerful tool to help soothe them during moments of stress or panic, and can be particularly useful if your child is prone to meltdowns and bouts of aggression.
The Labradoodle's warm and friendly personality has made them an ideal candidate as a service dog, especially with the emotional and social complexity of Autism. The fact that the family can enjoy the dog simply as a beautiful pet is also an advantage, as Labradoodles can efficiently serve both roles.
Scientists at the University of Rennes in France observed 23 autistic and 19 non-autistic children and found that autistic children might prefer spending time with cats instead of dogs. The “less intrusive glance” of cats may be why they feel more comfortable with cats, says Marine Grandgeorge who worked on the study.
Border Collie
The valedictorians of the dog world, these herders took the top spot in Stanley Coren's intelligence rankings, meaning most can learn a new command in under five repetitions and follow it at least 95% of the time.
Spitz breeds like huskies and Akitas are known for their stubborn streak when it comes to training. Other poor choices around little kids are lumbering giant breeds like bullmastiffs or Saint Bernards, which tend to bowl over toddling children or most anything in their path.