Today’s Question

Tracey: Hi, I have an 3.5yr old with Autism. I would like to look into having a special trained dog for him. I think it would help him in many ways.

Dear Tracey,

To answer your question, yes … a specially training dog would be wonderful for your child.  But not all autistic children do well with dogs. Also, there is a major difference in  placing a service dog with an adult who is physically challenged as compared to placing a specially trained dog with a child with autism. So …. make sure you do your homework well.

Some organizations which place dogs with autistic children (with high success rates) do so when the dog is a young puppy (North Star). Others train the dog separately before the adult dog arrives at two years of age (4 Paws for Ability). This is an individual choice based on your child and what your personal needs are in the family.

Generally, I think North Star would be the better route  for your young child, even though there will always be some risk involved – and this organization is prepared for such things.  Each autistic child is a unique individual and the puppy will need to be tailored to meet those unique needs.  North Star is an organization which places the service puppy as in order to make the strongest bond possible for a better future. This requires the ability  to insure the dog’s training matches the child’s needs.

I hope this helps, and if you need anything else, please let me know. Good Luck on your search!

Sincerely,

Nancy Houser

Other Service Dog Programs

Autism Service Dogs of America (make sure you read their FAQ! It quickly answers lots of questions)

Autistic Children Need New Leash on Life from Service Dogs

Tender Loving Canines