Dog for family with child with autism

[googlenut]

Im looking for some advice. We have three children 10,9 and 7. The youngest is a ds with mild autism. I have been on the training workshops run by dogs for the disabled and had decided to wait for a while before getting a dog.
But today we were out and met a dog owner who had an 'Esky'. We all fell in love with it and on the surface seemed a lovely temperament for our family. Does anyone have any info on this dog breed?

Not dissing labs! Just going by what they told us on the course-that labs,although generally great, can sometimes be a bit passive for children on the spectrum. I guess it comes down to individual dogs in the end.
I would love to have some contacts for adult labs, though wouldn't want too old a dog as would not want ds to bond with a dog that might not live too many years after

PM coming your way, googlenut

If it isn't actually an assistant dog you're after, but more of a steady, calm companion, I would definitely agree with those suggesting a greyhound - or perhaps a lurcher?

We have a gorgeous roughcoated lurcher who is big, sturdy, steady and calm. He's an absolute sweetie around all three dcs, but seems to be especially careful and gentle around dd, who is just 3. He's an treasure really and no trouble either at home or out and about.

Thanks ecumenical I'll follow up the details you sent me

googlenut we have a labradoodle and are up north, happy to meet and see how you get on. He seems to know when to be gentle (visiting children who are unsure of dogs) and has been very easy to train. I know you said you don't like doodles, but to be fair he's basically a Lab with a beard!

One of the best Hearing Dogs we socialised was a Nova Scotian Duck Tolling Retriever, beautiful dog, amazing temperament, very tolerant and trainable and passed all his assessments with flying colours. The only other one we had which measured up to the same standard was a CKCS, but you specifically mentioned larger breeds.

Have you thought about taking a Guide Dog reject? They don't necessarily get rejected for 'bad' reasons.

By the way, the Toller I referred to above was donated to Hearing Dogs by a breeder at zero cost as he wasn't up to breed standard and she wanted him to go to a good cause. Could be an option for you maybe?

All great ideas, I'll follow them all up. I think there is a long waiting list for guide dog rejects but I shouldn't let that stop me inquiring.

Have just googled Tollers and what beautiful dogs they are!! Sound lovely from a training and pet point of view. One website though said they like to push boundaries? Have three kids that do that so would appreciate your experience of that.

My friend has guide dogs from puppy till they go training, and her last dog was rejected because he wouldn't go into the butchers

He never pushed our boundaries, but we weren't responsible for training him (just looking after him at weekends and exposing him to life in general). He was an absolute angel. But then he had his own personal trainer during the week and they may have just been lucky with him (we had labs/spaniel/poodle mixes in various combinations before him and all of them failed so I guess it is down to the individual dog as much as anything).

lisa

One of my dogs won't even walk past the butchers let alone go in there - which is really strange, because she was on a raw food diet until we moved here. She gets really freaked out and starts spooking as soon as she's within sniffing distance of the place. I've had to stop walking her that way now.

She's still more than happy enough to eat meat though!

A friend of mine had a Toller and she was a lovely dog, really steady and passed her gold good citizen award easily.

I'd definitely take a trip to Discover Dogs if you can, it was going there that helped confirm to us that we wanted a Wheaten all those years ago.

One of the greyhound charities I volunteer for has successfully placed greys in a few homes now where DC have autism. Generally, greys are very gentle dogs and this can be a very good combination. I wouldn't describe greys as being particularly trainable - certainly not their strong point, though one of ours has done his KC Gold. Definitely one to consider.

Have you ever considered a buddy dog, from Guide Dogs. If you pm me details I can put you in contact with someone from the association. Also Hearing dogs have fallen angels.

There are certain breeds which I would say are a huge NO, but would like to thank stringcheese for mentioning GSD.

My 2 Shepherds adore children, and we have friends with special need children, eg autism, aspergers and downs syndrome - my two are just stunningly patient and caring, infact my friend takes her GSD with her when she assesses families who are after a buddy dog as she is so aware of the childs need. That said, you need to put in the work to get a calm, steady dog - of any breed.

Good luck OP. Dogs have a special sort of awareness of childrens needs imho.

Thanks Jax, I agree.

(We had our lovely GSD put to sleep last week, twisted stomach sob sob, but he was the most patient dog in the world. And loved kids.)

Jax-have PM'd you for details

google can you tell me where you are in the UK? Will check PM later.

string so very sorry. I know how hard it is when you lose one.

Just out of interest a friend of mine messaged me last night to say that someone she knows is looking for a home for a 5yr old dog.

What kind of dog is it? We are in the north east of England.

its a great dane X rottie, huge but gentle.

I kknow you said you are maybe not keen but I'd recommend labradoodles as well. My oldest LD will quite happily lie on the floor with a whole class of 6 year olds crawling all over her.

They are very bright, bouncy but will put up with almost anything and still come back for more with their tails wagging. Bitches tend to be more family oriented and are incredibly loyal. Even my 11 year old Ds can quite happily walk our 3 on his own.

My 10 yr old has ASD and we have an almost 4 yr old German Shepherd bitch. They are so loyal they are the perfect dog for such a child :) OUrs is very patient and so gentle :)

my friend doesnt cover that area googlenut, but if you go on to guide dogs and hearing dogs website they will have contact details for you.

topknob I love my shepherds and so very loving towards children.

Parents Autism Workshops and Support
paws.dogsforthedisabled.org/

Not only will they help you with making your initial dog selection, but training and ongoing support too. They have close links with the dogs trust who have access to a huge range of dogs (lots are young). Backing this scheme are two Universities and the dogs for the disabled team who provide formal assistance dogs to adults, (including Autism Assitance Dogs) so their advice is well informed.

I only wsh I'd known about this scheme when I was looking for a dog to help my own AS son a few years back. (We have a whippet who is perfect for my child but I can see why she might not suit others I've met on the spectrum as our kids are all so different from one another).

jax I do love her a lot maybe more than dh :)