What is the best Service Dog breeds for person with autism?

Question

Guide dogs need to be predictable and usually are Labrador retrievers. With autism, the dog needs a certain ability to deal with the upredictable and solve problems instead of strict rules. What dogs have you found autistic persons do well with? What breed/crosses would you recommend and why that type?

For example, a herding dog to stop a child from wandering away or escaping out a window? or a tracker for getting lost? Or a dog that takes social initiative? Or signals for inappropriate behavior? Deal with sudden behavior change?

Another way to respond: What do you want a dog to do and what skills does the dog need to do those tasks? Thanks

Answer 1

As with any type of service dog, a lot will depend on the personalities of both the client and the dog. While Labs, for example, are commonly used as service dogs, there are of course a lot of Labs that wouldn't be so great at it. Another good breed, according to some friends of mine with an autistic son, is a golden retriever. I'm not sure how much of a bonifide "service dog" he is, but their son loves him.

I've linked to a site that provides "autism assistance" dogs to children and families; I hope it helps.

Answer 2

Service dogs for people with autism can help in a variety of ways. For children who like to run off, a service dog could bark and alert the caregiver, try to redirect the child to stay put, or slow the child down so that the caregiver could get to them. A service dog for a person with autism can also provide a little independence. Children are attached to the dogs via a leash and belt system. The dog responds to commands by the parents to proceed forward in a straight line, turn left or right and to stop. If the child approaches a curb or tries to walk off the sidewalk, the parent can tell the dog to stop and stay.

Service dogs can also assist the child with everyday comforting, and behavioral management. When the child engages in repetitive behaviors as some with autism do, a service dog is trained to lay it's head or paw on the child to calm them and stop them from stemming.

Service dogs also provide friendship, companionship, unconventional, and unconditional love for the person with autism. Some people with autism do not speak and having a service dog sometimes facilitates communication and gets them to being verbal.

Most service dogs are labs or golden retrievers. A good service dog is usually specifically matched to a certain individual and trained to respond to the person's individual needs.

Answer 3

If you look into a provider program for a psychiatric assistance dog Look at what limiting symptoms you might have. Would they qualify you as being substantially disabled under the ADA guidelines? What type of tasks could a dog be trained to do mitigate your disabilities. Keep in mind comfort does not make a service animal. ESA's have no access rights to go with their handler into public access. . Any program would need proper documentation of your limitations from the appropriate treating medical professionals . And a letter of need. The other thing to consider is that getting a dog is stressful in and of itself. Getting a service dog can cause a whole different set of stressors. Think you can handle some mother screaming at you and chasing you through the store DEMANDING you allow their little screaming darling to PET your dog? Or store owners denying you access? With all the attendant headaches that involves? A service dog requires more care and training upkeep to keep them happy working and to stay trained. having to pick up warm poop in all kinds of weather in places of public access. not ike yu can carry a pooper scooper with you. And by just having a dog with you everyone knows there has to be something WRONG with you. It puts you under a microscope. It can in fact create social anxiety. Sometimes it can seem like one is carrying around a "kick me" sign with how nasty people can be to a person in public access with a service dog. You no longer can just blend in , disappear , and be invisible. A service dog is not an end all cure all solution.

Answer 4

If I were to get a dog to train to be a Service Dog then I would pick one that tends to be good with children, is gentle, and protective of it's charge. My experience tells me the best breeds for this will probably be herding dogs like Border Collies, Shelties, Labs, Golden Retrievers, and any Lab mix.

It's important that the dog be trained for his/her work when very young. The sooner, the better. As for what to help with, this you would have a better feel for. If your child is a wanderer, then you want a dog that can truly "herd" your child (gently of course), etc.

Answer 5

Official service dogs are going to be strictly trained on how to behave with a person. It's not just about the breed.
A lot of labs are service dogs, but mine would never qualify because she is crazy, no matter how much training she's had.

Answer 6

We looked into getting a service dog for our son, who has Asperger's, and like many people on the autism spectrum, has a special affinity for animals. When we discovered that the expense and waiting list made a service dog impossible, we started looking at a companion animal. We found a shelter animal, an adorable 1 year old female border collie. She's perfect for him--protective, intelligent, tuned in to his needs, able to learn quickly, and incredibly loving. When he gets upset we say, "Go pet Mina." Petting her has prevented many meltdowns. And, as a border collie, she's small enough to stay in the house. (Wouldn't matter, if it would help my son I'd keep a baby elephant in the house!). I can't speak for everyone, but for us, she was an answer to prayer.