Dogs and Autistic Children...

[Jennygirl]

I saw that our news is doing a story on this this evening, so I looked it up...

Here are some links about it...

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=dog...p=mss&ei=UTF-8

[Trey]

Yeah my brother has a dog. They got it from an organization called Canines for Companions. He is THE most well-trained dog I have ever met. He follows my brother around all over the place, doesn't let him go in the street, is his friend. It's a great idea!

[LaneyBug]

Well, we recently got a yellow lab. He is a really good dog, and tolerant with the kids, but he is scared of Tristan. Tristan pokes him and pulls his tail. We are teaching him to be nicer, but it isn't sticking. I'm hoping it will be a positive thing for him though.

[Sophie♥Hatter]

Jacob is terrified of most dog's. He would need an extremely calm and non-barking dog.

[TallBlondie82]

I think dogs have that sixth sense...I think they almost "understand" the children with autism...not sure if that makes sense

wanted to add that I used to volunteer at a therapeutic horse stable...there were a lot of children who came in there to ride horses...it was GREAT for them...just fyi, if you can find anything like that around where you are

[Trey]

Originally Posted by Green~Mammy Jacob is terrified of most dog's. He would need an extremely calm and non-barking dog.

That's how my brother's dog is. You can wave a steak in front of him, leave the room with it RIGHT in front of him, and until you say "eat" he won't budge... He doesn't bark unless you tell him too, he is very gentle, even when my brother gets violent. They do such amazing training with these dogs!!!

[Blessed Ohana]

wow, that's amazing. i think that's such a great thing.

[Jennygirl]

I thought you ladies might like this...

Our humane society dog was actually trained to help a man in a wheelchair but the man passed and his family put him in the shelter...

[Kt-did]

Originally Posted by Jennygirl I thought you ladies might like this... Our humane society dog was actually trained to help a man in a wheelchair but the man passed and his family put him in the shelter...

Oh wow.... I'm not sure what breaks my heart more, that there are kids out there that need these types of animals, or that someone who had such a special animal and passed on, had a family that couldn't find anything better for this wonderful dog than to put it in a shelter???

I'm just glad to see he ended up doing more good and helping another person in the long run....

It's amazing what these dogs can do.
I've raised 3 puppies for Guide Dog for the Blind and let me just say, at our annual Christmas potluck where all the local recipients of one of their dogs is invited to come with family and dogs for a social event with other folks and to be waited on by the very kids that helped to raise their dogs.... These working guides are AMAZING. The things these pooches can learn!

My cousins youngest has several handicaps, including Autism. They are getting him a dog this summer, though I'm not sure from what organization. I have a feeling it's just a pet though. But he does the horse therapy and does AMAZING! At 4 he can't hardly even crawl, but boy can he ride a horse!!!!

My own personal story, I suffer from epilepsy which is brought on (in my case) by stress. I had issues in my personal life that were sending me over the edge. We got a dog, and I swear to you, this shelter rescue (he'd been hit by a car and left by the side of the road...) is SO incredibly in tune with not just me, but us, he senses when there is tension and reacts to our arguing by climbing up in between us. He's very sensitive to our moods and often reacts in a way that ultimately, makes us feel guilty, and we stop what we're doing and 'regroup' with family time with the dog. I kid you not folks, even untrained dogs have a special 'gift' when placed with the right family.....

[Jennygirl]

We are going to use him as a therapy dog in nursing homes as soon as he gets his CGC.