Breed Information

I'm really glad that Gina and Jen chimed in here. Lots of great insight. I don't have any experience with autistic kids but I felt a twinge of worry reading through your posts. What Gina said about having a plan if it doesn't work out is really important. That is why it would be key to get a dog either from a breed rescue who will take the dog back no matter what or a breeder who agrees ahead of time to do the same. The two rescues that I work with actually have clauses in their adoption contracts that require the owners to return the dog to the rescue rather than giving it away or taking it to a shelter.

Is you purpose for the dog to help you son get over his fear of dogs? Is he afraid of stray cats that he does not know outside the home? I wonder if having a dog at home would translate to other dogs, like you hope it to. Do autistic adults/kids generalize like that?

Gina makes good suggestions about beagles or leons. Newfis would be good solid dogs as well.

I would not go with a corgi. I think they have a low tolerance for kids who don't respect boundaries. Every corgi I know has snapped at a rude kid who didn't listen to the back off signals they were throwing. Also, corgis are extremely alert and intense about what goes on around their house and home. I think you need a not so intelligent dog. One that goes with the flow and won't mind being knocked around a bit.

Jewlieee

I'm really glad that Gina and Jen chimed in here. Lots of great insight. I don't have any experience with autistic kids but I felt a twinge of worry reading through your posts. What Gina said about having a plan if it doesn't work out is really important. That is why it would be key to get a dog either from a breed rescue who will take the dog back no matter what or a breeder who agrees ahead of time to do the same. The two rescues that I work with actually have clauses in their adoption contracts that require the owners to return the dog to the rescue rather than giving it away or taking it to a shelter.

 

Is you purpose for the dog to help you son get over his fear of dogs? Is he afraid of stray cats that he does not know outside the home? I wonder if having a dog at home would translate to other dogs, like you hope it to. Do autistic adults/kids generalize like that?

The first part, about having a plan if it doesn't work out, is part of why I said you really should be honest with the breeders, even if it means many turn you down (and I do not doubt that many of them will turn you down if you are honest).  However, you will really need to be honest so that you can make sure the dog has a good place to go to if it doesn't work out for your family. My breeder gets my cavalier back if I can't keep him.

In my experience, and please do not take offense at this, I've found the autistic children I've worked with to often generalize in a way similar to many dogs. They generalize what you don't want, and they don't generalize what you do want.  Just because someone is okay with a certain dog, does not mean they will like all dogs, or unfamiliar dogs. If your son doesn't like off leash dogs, a dog of your own may attract off leash dogs to approach, and he may really not like that. I have a dog that is fine with other dogs, expect small dogs who appear in her face unexpectedly.

 

agreed. Elias like HIS dogs...he does not like OTHER dogs...because they actually do not act like HIS dogs...they act like other people's dogs. The dogs are raised in totally different environments, and thus they seem almost another species to my son. He has no interest in touching or interacting with them and in fact many times it is distressing. That is because he absolutely lives in fear of anything that is not PREDICTABLE, and one thing we all know that unknown dogs are NOT, is predictable LOL! Their very spontaneity is why many of us, love them....but its no fun when novel experiences...are so very FRIGHTENING.

Phew *HUGE* sigh of relief here.  I am SO SO SO glad Gina and Jen chimed in here.  This is exactly the input I wanted you to have and part of what I was trying to provide with the links I gave you.  I do pet therapy.  That IS **NOT* a companion dog.   They are different.  Particularly not to the challenges a family face with a child in the autism spectrum.

Given what you have now told us -- you've gotten enough GOOD input now to begin working with professionals and groups to do this right.  In particular, realize you have both the input of a professional here AND a mother.  You get both sides of the coin. 

AND Gina also has been a breeder (and Jen rocks at training). 

Good luck -- and may the things they've said help you spring off into good areas for your own consideration.