Autism Assistance Dog: Is It Right For Your Child & Family?

One of the top priorities for any child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families is to provide the structural, relational, and emotional support to facilitate high-quality, functional daily lives. 

Pros & Cons Of An Autism Assistance Dog For A Child With ASD

Autism assistance dogs, or autism support dogs, can work wonders in this realm - but only if they are the best choice for the child and the household dynamic.

In a recent study on the use of assistance therapy dogs for children with ASD, researchers stated that while further research is needed to compile more comprehensive data in this relatively new area, 

It is possible to hypothesize that intervention strategy based on exploiting the emotional aspects of the relationship with a dog might represent an effective tool to dampen withdrawal of children with ASD by targeting some of the core symptoms of this disorder. The simple and interpretable pattern of movements that characterize dogs might facilitate the engagement of children with ASD in structurally simple social actions that do not require the interpretation of verbal cues and are highly repeatable and predictable (e.g., throw, fetch and retrieve play, walking the dog on a leash, giving a hand command).

Again, these dogs are highly trained, and candidates (and their families) undergo a comprehensive review and “people training” process before the dogs are officially integrated into the home as permanent family and support team members.

Pros Of Choosing An ASD Support Dog

In addition to being one of the best friends your child will ever have, Guide Dogs of America shares some of the many ways therapy dogs are trained to support their humans with ASD. This includes things like:

• Providing emotional comfort.
• Being the ultimate “weighted blanket” via applying weight or pressure by leaning into a child or lying down on their child’s lap or feet.
• Helping nonverbal (or less-verbal) children feel more compelled to speak.
• Sensing early signs of repetitive behaviors or disruptive/harmful responses - minimizing meltdowns and providing emotional soothing/support.
• Tethering (which also includes the dog's insistence on remaining in the “down” position, preventing a child from being able to bolt, run away, or otherwise enter a dangerous situation).
• Provide additional safety measures (matched explicitly to the child’s specific vulnerabilities - ranging from stranger danger protection to seizure support).
• Supporting movement for children with mobility/coordination challenges.
• Help with sensory stimulation/soothing.
• Improved sleep habits.
• Increased confidence and independence.
• Can become part of your child’s role-playing and applied behavioral therapy sessions.

And, because these dogs are legally admitted entrance to schools, libraries, planes and trains, and other public places (with proper legal documents/proof), they become an extension of the child they are serving.

Best breeds for autism assistance dogs

If anyone in the household suffers from allergies, a Labradoodle or Goldendoodle (Labrador or Golden retriever bred with a standard Poodle) is the best option since these dogs are considered hypoallergenic (they have hair rather than fur and minimum dander).

Other dogs that serve kids with ASD and their families well are:

• German Shepherds
• Golden Retrievers
• Labrador Retrievers
• Saint Bernards
• Newfoundland
• Great Pyrenees
• Bernese Mountain Dogs

Note: These are all large breed dogs for a reason. While smaller dog breeds can make good emotional support companions, the types of support and protection best suited to children with ASD require a dog that can handle more vigorous or intense physical interactions.

Challenges Of Committing To An Autism Assistance Dog

Assistance dogs are not the best fit for everyone, so parents and caregivers of children with ASD should learn all they can, realistically weighing the pros and challenges before making this serious commitment.

Some of the challenges associated with committing to a support dog include:

• Funds associated with purchasing/adopting the dog, including their lifetime of food and veterinary care (sometimes there are assistance programs for this).
• Potential for allergies (typically alleviated by choosing support dogs with hypoallergenic hair).
• Living spaces (or vehicles, if relevant) that can accommodate a larger-breed dog.
• Daily responsibility for feeding, hydrating, exercising, and otherwise ensuring the dog has a safe place to live and all their basic needs met - every single day.
• General cleaning, sanitizing, and respecting the hygiene needs for their beds, blankets, toys, living areas, etc.
• Commitment to adhering to their training guidelines, reinforcements, and other routines/behaviors that support the dog’s emotional well-being.
• Providing a consistently stable home.

These things may seem like a given, but there are no “days off” with dog care the same way there aren’t with childcare. 

All of that said, honoring the dog’s needs and providing a safe and loving home for them means your child, parent/caregivers, and other household members receive invaluable “payback” in a loyal and consistent “therapist” in the home, in public, and on vacations.

Qualification Requirements For Getting Your Autism Therapy Dog

There is a large demand for therapy dogs in general, especially for children with ASD. So, a rigorous vetting program ensures dogs go to the right homes. 

There are several different service dog organizations, each with their own protocols and criteria for assessing qualifying assistance dog candidates. 

Some of the best-known and most reputable of those are:

• Autism Service Dogs of America
• 4 Paws for Ability
• Guide Dogs of America
• Canine Companions for Independence
• Blessings Unleashed
• Assistance Dogs International

We recommend visiting all of their sites and learning more about each one. It will also provide more in-depth information about autism therapy dogs, their benefits, and whether it feels like the right move for your family.

While certain factors may vary, here are examples of the Guide Dogs of America’s general minimum requirements for individuals and families interested in qualifying for an autism assistance dog:

• Diagnosis of autism and must be between 4 to 12 years of age.
• Must be participating in ABA therapy or other intervention services or therapies.
• Your child is excited and seeks out dog interactions.
• Having one adult Primary Handler for the service dog team.
• The Third-Party Handler must have the ability to independently complete Team Training, a hands-on training course, and reside in our campus dorms in Sylmar, CA for 10 days.  Please visit our Team Training page to learn more.
• Be prepared to share detailed information that pertains to eligibility including personal history, medical and mental healthcare history, and references.
• Desire to utilize a service dog for public access and interaction.
• Ability to provide a safe, loving, healthy, and stable home for a service dog.
• Ability to provide for the dog’s physical, psychological, and financial needs.

Need Support With ABA Therapy Particpation & Intervention Services?

It’s never too early - or too late to begin applied behavioral analysis therapy. However, time is of the essence if you have a young child diagnosed with ASD and you’re interested in seeing if a support dog is a good fit. The Autism Response Team has served ASD clients and their families using ABA therapy for more than 50 years in and around the communities of Frisco, Tyler, Longview, McKinney, and Prosper. 

We have seen first-hand how helpful an autism assistance dog can be when placed with the right child and their family. Contact us to learn more about our services and to help you determine whether your household would benefit from one of these incredible dogs. Contact us to schedule a consultation.