Dogs

My grandson who is 4yrs has just had his diagnosis he is non-verbal, and does not interact with people much.

We have a german shepherd who is 2yrs old and having 11 grandkids, he has a special bond with Nathan that is unlike his bond with any of the other kids.

I would go as far as to say that Sonny the dog picked up on nathan's autism before we did. He is very gentle and follows him all over the house, last weekend they even played ball together(very gently) the interaction between these two bring a tear to our eyes, its so lovely to see Nathan have eye contact with Sonny and heartwarming.

Thts- sorry got piggy in arms, so spelling amiss- start again.....that's why animals are so lovely to bond with-they never confuse you with their moods/behaviour/they don't play mind games. Just consistent, unless in pain, then they change personality. But even then, they don't let their behaviour/moods e..tc harm you.Thay're just one big lot of love,comfort e.t.c

 i expect that's why you love the fostering e.t.c, as well as all the other rewards it brings.

It sounds sensible to me, to keep numers down. It can be very tiring to have alot of animals.  i'd never stop copletely either- i don't think. But i do think how much pain can i go through loosing them.

I like reptiles too, they do have great personalities and are just as intuatve as other animals.

Thanks, I am very glad that I could be of help. I have loved animals my whole life, ever since I was very small. I didn't have anyone in my family I could turn to or trust, so I found that bonding with animals made me feel happy. 

I particularly love the fostering and rescuing, as then I feel like I am helping another creature. I haven't always had anyone to help me, so I like to help others when I can. I guess I can relate to how they feel maybe? It is such hard work though. I have been doing it for 10 years and am getting really tired now spending every weekend cleaning. But I won't stop completely-just keep the numbers down so it is more manageable.

i find it interesting too how strongly animals can bond with humans. It is understandable in animals who live in social groups (like dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc). They are used to forming social bonds. I find it amazing that more solitary creatures do too-like reptiles. Our beardie is very bonded to us. He gets very annoyed when he doesn't get any attention .

Thank-You- you've helped me again- i couldn't put my finger on it, but think your right, animals i.e. dogs do provide all that, which aspies don't necessarily get from people due to not being able to connect to certain personalities so easily probably through no fault of our own.

It's nice to hear your puppy is making you feel secure. I think most animals bond with their mummy's/daddy's if their treated properly. They have a part of the brain called the cerebellum-which stores learning, emotion and behaviour, so they will form bonds. Obviously it is a smaller capacity than a humans-but they still bond e.t.c

It's nice to hear you got so much from fostering. But sorry it caused heart ache too.

Yeah I do think dogs are great for people with aspergers. As you say, they provide companionship, affection, security. I think a lot of Aspies are missing those because we don't connect so easily with other people?

my puppy is curled up next me as I type this. It is hard to describe the way that makes me feel-like I am smiling inside. 

I am sure cats bond strongly with people too. I had one cat growing up and she used to sleep on my bed with me.

that is great you are being sensible and waiting until the time is right to get a dog.

i found fostering animals hard but very rewarding. It is hard when they die in your care and also hard to let them go and be adopted by someone else. But the rewards are worth it.

Hi,

Your little puppy sounds lovely. And because you are putting in the commitment, he is repaying you, which you are getting so much in return: in terms of love, affection, companionship,loyalty, a sense of security. And also helping you to come out of your shell.  I've learn't from you- if i keep interactions with some people short- i won't get any problems. My cat is like your puppy, he too sticks to me like glue, but i don't mind, it makes me feel safe.

I'll adopt a dog, likely from a rescue one day-but i have to be sensible and make sure i could provide for it e.t.c but it's good advice and i know that they can make beautiful aditions to the family, as rescue places really work on the dogs to help them become well,feel safe and secure,  and be trained well and socialised. Would you work at a rescue again? i couldn't volunteer at an animal place, i get ever so distressed if any animal passes away as i tend to bond with them too much-even if they belong to somebody else.

But once in a while i get sad because i can't have a doggie yet. They really are good for people with aspergers. Every time i meet one, i just feel safe, happy and calm.

Your first post posted okay, but it does seem to take a while with mine too so I am never sure if they posted unless I go back and check later.

i have a 6 month old pug puppy. He is a huge amount of work but what he gives back is so worth the effort. Dogs are pack animals and bond so strongly with their owners, but that means they are really tuned in to body language and our moods too. And they are loyal. Pugs are like Velcro: they stick to you like glue and just want to be wherever you are.

my little pug is very cute too. He is like a people magnet as everyone comes up and makes a fuss over him on walks. I am finding this is good for me, as it forces me to interact with other people rather than withdraw into myself. And so far, I have found other dog owners to be nice and friendly. Plus the interaction with them is very short so not so threatening.

maybe you could adopt an older dog from a rescue rather than a puppy? Then they would already be house trained, etc? I used to volunteer with an animal shelter that took a lot of dogs rescued from horrible puppy farms in Wales. The dogs were so desperate and grateful when they were adopted.

i would thoroughly recommend getting a dog for any Aspie who is able to.

P.S i just wrote a lovely long reply, but the computer hasn't pasted it all on and i can't remember exactly what i put. So appologies for half a reply, in my last post about dogs-

But to recap a little.....

Basically, i too find dogs calming e.t.c and my favourite are lhasa apso's, westies, yorkies and *** zhu's. What is your dog? Do you have a favourite breed? i find them so much more calming than people- certain personality types are difficult and send me into mini meltdowns/give head stress for months. But dogs are so relaxing. I had a puppy for a few days, but for 101 reasons, she had to go home. In 15yr, i'd be abe to get another dog.

I find it great too, being in the company as animals. I expect being a fosterer has it's good and bad points, especially if you rescue them from unacceptable conditions.But the rewards you get from rescuing/fostering can be very rewarding. I can't be without animals either. You mentioned you now have two Chinchilla's , i can't remember if chinchilla's are susceptable to diabeties like Degus? i have held some at animal sanctuary's. But decided against getting chinchilla's because i was frightened i'd give them fur slip. And in terms of space e.t.c i couldn't provide it, so stick to guinea pigs e.t.c which are amazing animals.

I too find certain personality/types of people very difficult and so like you love being with animals. I do find some types of people i can relate to, and don't cause me mini meltdowns/stress. Unless my animal babies are ill and i go into distress i find animals are very calming e.t.c, like you find too.

 I feel the same about dogs like you, dogs are among my favourite animals- they give me so much back. I love lhasa apso's, yorkshire terriers, westies and and the  *** zhu. What is your dog? How old is he?  i had a puppy for a few days but for 101 reasons, she had to go home. I am desparate for a dog, as every time i go near one, my humaness returns, i loose all anxieties and worries for a few minutes and relax and fall in love with them/feel safe. But my cat helps too- i couldn't be without him.I  think it'll be 15yr before i can have another dog.

I too love the company of animals and have spent the past ten years fostering and rescuing all sorts of small animals (rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, mice). I now have two chinchillas and they are wonderful pets as they bond very strongly with their human owners. 

I find it verŷ therapeutic having animals in my life. I find them more enjoyable company than most people.

i have recently just gotten a dog also and absolutely adore him! He gives me exactly what I need (but struggle to find) in humans: loyalty, bonding, companionship, simple communication (body language) and someone to talk to. It is such a joy to see him curled up beside me feeling completely safe, and also tearing around the field running at full speed just out of sheer exuberance! 

I will never be without a dog in my life again. They give so much back.

I love dogs.  (I cannot stand the smell of their poo, though!)  I used to have a dog, friends and relatives had dogs, etc. 

I often say hello to local dogs and cats more than I do people! 

I love cat ,dog and horses

Rotweillers- I know somebody with a Rotweiller. It came from a rescue( most Rotweillers,Staffies e.t.c. have a bad name, and all rescues really work on any behaviour issues, so the majority have a bad name because of the few owners that let them down). Any dog can have the pottential to be agressive-usually if they are in pain. Have any medical problem or haven't been trained. But apparantly, Rotweillers used to be used as therapy dogs and this one and i'm sure many more are the most affectionate,loyal, kind, non-judgemental dogs. They have the temperement of laboradours. I do understand how you may be frightend of some dogs, i had a very bad experience with a giant( it seemed giant, i was only small) Red Setter as a child-luckily i was only frightened of dogs up until i was a teenager)

I get really isolated sometimes and love to go out for a walk. I love coming across dogs, so happy and friendly, really enjoying their day. They are so intelligent and non judgemental. I can find people really patronising, but dogs just make the day so much better. They are also great for the neuro hormones. They help with anxiety and depression-great for pets as therapy. I have a cat, netherland dwarf rabbit, syrian and dwarf hamsters and gerbils and they are life savers. All animals make life so worthwhile and are so intelligent and amazing. Every one i've had have such personality and are so beautiful.

longman said:

I enjoy meeting friendly dogs (though I'm far less happy about boisterous, barky or aggressive ones - and I avoid big dogs like rottweilers and dobermans, whose owners mostly keep them for all the wrong reasons.

I talk to dogs, often more than I do the owners. It's actually not a bad interface. Dogs do seem to respond well to interested humans.

I don't however own a dog, though we had family dogs, myself I've not found it practical to take one on. Because I'm out walking a lot, one of the things I look out for and observe, is the way dogs behave when they see another human (though not an attractive feature if you are scared of dogs). Often the dog is looking for your dog, and is concerned or even irritated that you are out without a dog. Once you know about this, its amazing to see dogs looking everywhere for an invisible dog.

I'n not a cat person, and generally cat wary, but I also talk to cats. I guess that's me categorised!

Usually a word with the owner is advised with certain breeds and I've met many dogs of so called "vicious" breeds who are very affectionate. If you walk a lot, having a dog is excellent company.

I like cats. I am a bit more wary but I always wait for other peoples' pets to come to me. Most of them do. A cat in our neighbourhood has taken a liking to me and I really enjoy its company.

I enjoy meeting friendly dogs (though I'm far less happy about boisterous, barky or aggressive ones - and I avoid big dogs like rottweilers and dobermans, whose owners mostly keep them for all the wrong reasons.

I talk to dogs, often more than I do the owners. It's actually not a bad interface. Dogs do seem to respond well to interested humans.

I don't however own a dog, though we had family dogs, myself I've not found it practical to take one on. Because I'm out walking a lot, one of the things I look out for and observe, is the way dogs behave when they see another human (though not an attractive feature if you are scared of dogs). Often the dog is looking for your dog, and is concerned or even irritated that you are out without a dog. Once you know about this, its amazing to see dogs looking everywhere for an invisible dog.

I'n not a cat person, and generally cat wary, but I also talk to cats. I guess that's me categorised!