Good breed for child with ASD

[Strix]

I'm thinking about getting a dog. We rent and the lease says we can't have one. But I think it would be really good for my HF ASD (Aspergers) 8 year old to have a companion. Our house is quite small and we have a small garden. I don't like small yappy dogs, but can't realistically house a big dog in our little house. So I'm thinking...

medium size
low-to medium grooming/maintenance
moderate exercise requirement (can go for 1-2 mile walk to/from school everyday, and there is a smallish garden to run around in).

Any recommendations?

I like the Norwegian Elkhund but I think it needs a bigger house/garden.

[BiteyShark]

You mentioned a Norwegian Elkhund. My first google said the exercise needs were high and they were energetic. Not having a big garden isn't really the issue here it's the lack of suitable exercise you would need to do outside of the size of your garden.

I have a dog and sometimes we don't go for a walk. But that is because we use daycare so he gets 'hours' of exercise off lead with other dogs in the week. Then I do lots of mental and physical stimulation with him (training, agility in the garden (I have enough space to have jumps and tunnels), hunting exercises) to ensure he is suitably exercised. That is why I mentioned about training and off lead exercise because letting them wander around the garden isn't really that stimulating and if they aren't exercised or mentally stimulated enough then you can guarantee they will find their own entertainment.

I can understand you feeling defensive but given the threads on here all we are trying to do is make you aware that there are many many things to consider and not just the ones you have listed especially with your first breed you mentioned and the exclusion of 'small yappy dogs'. Mine is a small to medium dog. He doesn't yap, he barks and when he barks it's bloody loud but we have no neighbours that would be affected.

[lorisparkle]

We bought a puppy, not for ds1 who has autism, but because we wanted a puppy. He finds the puppy very difficult to manage and certainly does not view him as s companion. Hopefully as we train the puppy he will find it easier to manage. In fact he much prefers the cat who adores him and he will often ‘chat’ to the cat when he is calming down from a meltdown. Dogs need a huge amount of specialist training to be any time of working/therapy dog. I look at our beautiful but very lively black Labrador and wonder how on earth anyone could train him to be a guide dog or even a calm well behaved adult dog.

[Magissa]

Norwegian Elkhounds are fantastic but need a lot of exercise. They are also very strong willed and have selective hearing. Not for the inexperienced. Ours was gorgeous and it broke my heart when he died.
All dogs need commitment and time. Please don't just get a dog and expect it to live up to your expectations or your shopping list of qualities. I promise I am not trying to be rude in saying that. When we got our Elkhound puppy the first two years were life changing for the whole family. It was like the terrible twos and hormonal angry teenage years all in one go. Every day. We were experienced dog people too.

[fleshmarketclose]

I have two dc with autism. Puppies are not ASD friendly at all. My two lived in their bedrooms when Eric was small tbh. He nipped, he destroyed their stuff, he was unpredictable and noisy. They love him dearly now he is a calm, gentle, quiet dog though. We have recently adopted a nine year old Lhasa Apso, she is very calm and gentle and predictable and they love her too.
Both of the dogs need a lot more exercise than you are willing to give. We walk on average five miles a day and they need time off lead to sniff and chase balls besides to keep them calm and happy at home.