do we get a dog??

We as a family have dogs, but my son as never shown any affection for them, he walks them but in a way doesn't see them or have any feelings for them, about 6months ago he started saying he would like a dog of his own and telling us what he would do with it, take it to the beach, to the village etc, all things he wouldn't normally do on his own, luckily for him I have a very  tarty terrier who went and got her self up the duff, so 4 weeks ago 3 little bundles of fluff were born.

      My son took an instant like to one of the pups and 'Stanley' is staying here with us. if their relationship doesn't work out we have room for another dog anyway so he will just blend in with the other dogs,but all signs are that Stanley is one lucky dog and is all ready adored. I'm hoping the benefits of their bond will be getting son out of the house because he wants to and has instigated it, will give him something to talk about if he meets people, and generally boost his confidence and interaction with the outside world, also I'm hoping it will help the natural feelings of being happy and love to pop through more fire him, he says those are emotions he finds very difficult to feel.good luck with your decision xx

You may have already made up your mind as it has been a while since you posted. We looked into getting a dog for our son. There were the standard considerations obviously but we took advice from the RSPCA. We wanted a rescue animal anyway but they had the great idea of voulentary dog walking. Check it out at your local shelter. Our son had to wear his ear defenders at first (noise sensitive) and was not interested in the animals at all. Once he became familiar with the surroundings he was soon excited about holding the lead. The staff put two leads on the dogs. This means the adult has the actual control but the child feels involved too. You have nothing to loose with this approach as there is no pressure to take on any dog. They just appreciate the help with getting the dogs walked.

We recently got a dog (for the whole family, not specifically for our son, who has AS). Our son is very gentle with the dog and speaks really kindly to him, telling him how lovely he is and how much he loves him). Our dog is very gentle and affectionate (red setter). We haven't had the dog long, so don't know if he will help deal with emotional outbursts or the like, and we haven't tried any training in that line. However, it is great to see our son displaying his love for the dog, and we hope the relationship will develop well. Having a dog is a bit like having another child, though - more demands on attention, walking etc but we feel that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages! I think you need to be sure that you would like a dog too.

Have a look at PAWS on dogs for the disabled. http://paws.dogsforthedisabled.org/

This should help answer any of your questions. Personally as an adult with aspergers, having a dog has been life changing - for the better.

You might be able to get a golden retriever cross with a poodle. That would make a very gentle dog, with the calm nature of the retriever, but without the long hair that molts.

Labrapoos are supposed to be good dogs for those with hair and dust allergies. They are   a cross between a labrador and a poodle, and are often used as guide dogs. Poodles are naturally hypoallergenic, and are usually friendly and gentle, but they are large dogs.

Depends a lot on where you live, would he be safe taking the dog for walks ?

Have you had dogs before , they need a lot of training and attention, you cant just leave them on their own for a day or they chew up the house.

also an allergy friendly dog probably means a short haired terrier, these are very barky, be prepared for a riot every time the postman delivers or the doorbell rings, not ideal if he has sound hypersensitivity or migraines.

If you like dogs and know you have got the time to walk it every day for the next 10 years it could be a useful way of ensuring you get a break every day, and it might help you keep fit and lose weight.

hi - I think it depends on the individual, like anything else in life.  As he likes dogs then I'd presume that would be ok.  My son is the opposite.  He is suspicious and nervous about animals in general because he knows they are unpredictablle and some can bite and/or scratch.  Therefore he avoids them.  He cannot judge which ones are friendly and which are not so he errs on the side of extreme caution.  There's also what breed to consider.  Historically, pedigrees especially have been bred for a particular purpose, such as gun dogs, ratters, etc, so I'm sure you know that temperament is key.  I don't know which dogs are hypoallergenic but I wd check out their original purpose before buying so that the personality is stable, calm etc.  If you go ahead I hope everything works out brilliantly for you all.  Good luck + bw

Hi there

We are not doggy people but I thought a pet would help my (Aspergers? - still waiting diagnosis) son.  We got two kittens in the summer, its fantastic!  He has such a rappor with them, and when he is feeling down you only have to mention the kittens names and he is all smiles!  There is something very lovely about a pet - doesn't answer back, you can tell it anything and its always loving and friendly.  One of the best things we have done recently was to get them!

Don't know about dogs but I have heard that they are good for autistic people as they can often relate very well to animals.

Hi - probably wont be much help but have been wondering the same thing.  I think that if you have a clinical diagnosis there are places which run courses on this subject.  In fact, I think they might give you advice on training a dog to help your autistic child.  There was one open to anyone who had a diagnosis whether they had a dog or were just thinking of getting one.  Hope this helps - will be interested to read reponses you get.