ASD DS and the dog

[Shakirasma]

we have had our dog for 3 years, and for the first 2.5 years I don't think DS (5) even noticed, lol.

However over the last 6 months, DS has decided that he lurves the dog and just won't leave him alone. He wants to play with him and cuddle him all the time. He pulls his tail, snatches his ball out of his mouth and plonks himself on him when he is asleep.

Now the dog is an absolute angel about it and has never gotten shirty about it but obviously such rough behaviour is risky and unacceptable. But we just cannot get him to understand that he may be hurting the dog or that the dog may not want to play.

Can anybody recommend a good social story, or have any other suggestions on how to get DS to understand? His S&L skills are on a par of a 2-3 year old.

Thanks in advance.

I would contact Dogs for The Disabled. They're in Banbury, Oxon. they train assistance dogs for kids with ASD, so they would hopefully be able to give you some advice for that situation as I'm sure you're not the first parent to ask. My DS4 ASD (5) is now feeding our elderly Labrador, and likes to pull my mum's dog's tail. We just obviously tell him no, and remove his hand and say no again. He hasn't decided to launch himself in the dogs yet, but it's probably only a matter of time!

I was coming on here to ask the very same question.

We've had our dog almost a year now and DS (un dx'd) ASD, will not leave the poor dog alone. I'm not concerned with the dog hurting anyone but he's the only one in the house that seems to be abe to wind her up etc.

Hope you can get this sorted without too much stress!

sadly I ended up feeling I had to re-home our dog...she was a lovely tolerant pooch and very good about everything...but my DS was often too rough and hurting her and I felt so bad for her...
She has a lovely new home and we keep in contact with her and new family...she has another poochy pal too and is really happy.

I miss having a dog a lot...always had dogs in my life so I mourn not being able to at the moment (never say never) so maybe one day we can again

We have a large tropical fish tank now....and thats all at the moment

Thanks all for your input.

I shall email dogs for the disabled as suggested.