Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi all. My son is 3. His dad left me a year and a half ago for another women so we went through a very rough time but we are all settled and happy in our new life and his dad is still involved having him on a Sunday and over night on a Saturday every 2 weeks. He has a half brother (his dads other son who is 12) and he seems to really enjoy his company and his dads girlfriend has a 5 year old daughter who he also seems to get a long with very well. In our home it’s just me and my son. We play together and go for long walks in the park etc but he just has me for company.
I've recently been advised that maybe getting him a dog would be a good idea. Service dogs are very hard to come by in our area so I’ve been looking into this myself (picking a dog with the right temperament and ensuring my boy bonds with the dog before we get him/her and getting him/her the best training).
Myself and my partner have no plans to have any children. I’m just worried he’s lonely and that another companion in the house might help him a bit with his a anxiety at bed time and also help to get him out a bit more.
Does anyone have any advice on this? Perhaps someone who got a pet to help their autistic child and is it worth it? It is certainly not something I’m rushing into. It’s a very big decision and requires a lot of thought but I’m just wondering if anyone has any experience with this.
Thank you
jen
I've always had pets - cats or dogs. I currently have a dog that appears to be a failed DNA experiment, so I ended up with different parts of Labrador, staffie, horse, kangaroo, cat & sealion.
I tend to walk her around 3am so I don't bump into people. I don't mind much when walking the dog people saying hi or coming to play with her, the problem is she is a labrador sized staffie and thinks every other dog is there to play with her, and dog owners freak out when they see this huge dog running towards their beloved pet! This has caused the other dogs to get aggressive with her and bite her. She just lies down and takes it, but its heartbreaking to see.
As for comfort, she is very tuned into my moods She knows when its play time, walkies, comfort or to just leave me alone. Most dogs I have had seem to pick up on these things - or I have just been lucky!
I think you are right on dogs tuning in to moods. All my previous dogs have been great for that wish I could say the same for the daft German Shepherd we have at the moment she bounces like a jack Russell and thinks she is a lap dog! Completely bonkers won't leave my other half alone when he gets in from work. All he wants is to start his evening routine and the dog sends him flying ( funny as that looks)
Love the description of your dog by the way!