Plz help! what should i do with shih tzu!?!?

Question

i might get a shih tzu in the summer of 2007 so i can spend every day with him. but there is one problem. my brother is autistic( cant express his emotions with words and sometimes does not understand what is going on. still dont get it? look it up!!!)
and he is three years of age. is it still a good idea to get a shih tzu? i am afraid that my brother would drag him around or play with him 24/7. plz, i really need to know.

Answer 1

There are kids who are autistic who have pets and treat them just fine. I say go ahead and get the dog. Everything will be just fine.

Answer 2

I have an autistic son who's 22 and he doesn't like dogs. Starting at 3 years old is a good idea. Your brother probably won't try to play with the dog but he might not like the barking. As you know, people with autism have sensitive ears and the barking is very painful. My mother has a Shi Tsu and barking seems to be part of his nature. Can you go for another breed that can be trained not to bark indoors? Also if he is afraid of dogs like my son, he might try to kick it or throw things at it. But your brother can be reminded to ignore the dog. That's what we do with my son. There's a labrador is his group home and he just ignores her. She doesn't bother him because she knows he has nothing for her. The Shi Tsu is getting a little better, but he still tries to get John to play. I think they're not the best breed for a person with autism.

Answer 3

Perhaps a dog is not the right pet for your home if you fear that either your brother or the pet may get hurt in the process.

Maybe try something that lives in an aquarium that would still be visually stimulating, and require nurturing/care, but would be safe for the whole family.

There is never any guarantee that any dog won't bite. I would really do a lot of investigation and discuss the option of bringing a pet into your home with your family physician and psychologist.

Good luck.

Answer 4

If your brother reacts to loud noises then it may not be a good idea as shih tzu's, I believe, tend to have a higher yippy laugh.

My cousin who is autistic is growing up with a dog and the dog barks a lot. My cousin is perfectly fine with him... However, he hates all other dogs (including my dog) that bark b/c he is not used to them and their barks.

It may just take time to adjust, normal schedules are good for my cousin and once the dog became "normal" for him, he seemed perfectly fine with it.

Answer 5

There is a lot of research comparing dogs to autistic children. One book said that they didn't know whether they were learning more about dogs from the kids or vice versa. I would do some research, but I think it might be a GREAT thing for both of them.

Answer 6

If you are worried, then do not get the pup. Also, if you do decide to get a dog still, be prepared if you don't find the Shi tzu right away at a shelter. It might take several months or it might take a couple days.

Answer 7

Take your brother with you to your local animal shelter and take a dog aside with you and see how he interacts with a dog. Let the staff know of your concerns, a shih szu may not be the best choice of breed for you.

Answer 8

I have a son who is autistic and my shih tzu's have been the best thing we have ever done for him..He loves them and they love him..

Answer 9

They are awfully small dogs, it may be better to get a larger breed to prevent injuries happening to easily. I think with supervision they'd be okay, just as with any small child and pets. See how he is around others pets before getting one, then you'll have an idea of how'd he react to his own puppy.