What Would You Share With Parents Of Children With ASD Who Are Considering A Dog Or Cat? | MyAutismTeam

Connect with others who understand.

sign up Log in
Resources
About MyAutismTeam
Powered By
Real members of MyAutismTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.
What Would You Share With Parents Of Children With ASD Who Are Considering A Dog Or Cat?
A MyAutismTeam Member asked a question 💭
posted November 1, 2011
•
View reactions
A MyAutismTeam Member

If your child is a sensory seeker, be prepared to rescue the cat many many times from his overly-firm embrace. And to still be explaining to him that "we don't make kitty make a hurt noise!" two years after bringing the cat home. :)

posted November 2, 2011
A MyAutismTeam Member

Be very careful what breed of dog you choose. You want to make sure the dog is a good fit for your child before committing to keeping it--all children are different, all breeds are different, all families are different. Also make sure they are not allergic to the dog or cat. Allergies can cause congestion and can complicate ear problems, which several ASD children have.

posted November 1, 2011
A MyAutismTeam Member

My son (asd) was so scared of dogs. I started researching breeds & special needs. I decided on a labradoodle. They do not shed (most of them) and they are very smart. I decided it would be best to not adopt & go to a breeder so I knew exactly where the dog came from. The breeder was fantastic. She had 3 teenage sons and when the puppies were born she had her sons take turns sleeping in the area where the puppies were kept. Each boy would do behaviors and sounds (jumping, loud humming, shouting) to see what the reaction of the puppies were. You cant have a dog that is too shy & timid because that would be scary for them. You cant have a dog that is too high strung etc etc. Sure enough there was one puppy who didnt seem to have any issues with the sounds. We brought him home at 8 weeks old weighing 4 pounds.. My son fell in love from the first moment. Even going as a family to get him and seeing all the cute brothers and sister puppies.. who couldnt fall in love. They were like toys. From that point on he was a dog lover.
Our dog grew to full size 25 pounds and that is the perfect size. He turns 5 in 2 weeks & I am so glad we got him.
The first time we walked into a dog park my son wanted to get licked by each and every dog there. even the ones that might make me a bit nervous. hahaha...
and from the dog's point of view.. he for sure knew that my son was different from the other 2 kids. I could tell, he treated the kids differently. They are so smart its amazing.
I highly recommend getting a dog. My son learned about being gentle. and caring for the dog (helping me get the food or treats), the list goes on and on.
It is a very individualized decision. You need to look at what is best for your family and the dog. But there is no love like the love of a dog. I did not grow up with a dog or any pets for that matter except a fish. He became my best friend too. Dogs have so much love to give.

posted November 4, 2011
A MyAutismTeam Member

Like all things ASD, it depends on the individual child. I wouldn''t expect a kid who still can't remember to turn in the completed homework in his backpack without prompting to remember to feed his fish or walk the dog independently. If your plate is already overflowing and your exhaustion index peaking, adding yet more responsibility might not be the best thing. And there is always the death and loss potential. If your kid has violent meltdowns when he can't find a particular Lego, it might not be worth the risk of a hamster yet. Consider your kid very carefully. Consider the species and breed very carefully. Anticipate problems and decide if and how you would deal. Be very honest with your reasoning and evaluations. If you aren't sure yet, don't. Pets are living creatures and a big responsibility under any circumstances.

That all being said, we have always had cats. And when J was six, he had his first experience with loss (got through it fine) and when we went to the pound to get a new cat (after awhile), he helped and his bond with that crazy fool, eighteen pound (now), ginger lump'o'feline has gotten him through and past several bad days and has been the saving grace of adolescence. Animals don't care about eye contact or pristine personal hygiene or proper social conventions. That unconditional affection w/o judgement can make a huge difference for a kid who feels "outside" so much of the time.

posted November 7, 2011
A MyAutismTeam Member

We have a Rottwiler (yes I know what you are tinking no he is not aggressave and no I do not feel he will ever bite) and I fully believe if you find a Dog that fits with your child you can have extra training done to help the dog stay away when a meltdown happends and doing this is a GREAT idea as your child may be like mine and think hey its my dog and I am mad here I can't hit mommy but I can hit the dog so teaching the animal to stay back or go to another room when told is a great thing to do other then that find a bread that fits and show the animal lots of love and it will be there when your child need it the most I know mine was ( I recommend a dog because they are protective and also if you do not have a special breed check out the animal shelter let them know your childs "specialness" and see if they can help)

posted November 3, 2011

Related content

View All
What Do You Encourage For Independent Play?
A MyAutismTeam Member asked a question 💭
8 Yr Old Using Diaper At Nite Nite.
A MyAutismTeam Member asked a question 💭
Any Advice On How To Help My Grandson With Staying Asleep Please. His Poor Parents Are Desperate. 5yrs And Barely A Full Nights Sleep
A MyAutismTeam Member asked a question 💭
Continue with Facebook
Continue with Google
Your privacy is our priority. By continuing, you accept our Terms of use and Privacy policy.
Already a Member? Log in