Autism Service Dog Program
What Are Autism Service Dogs?
Training a service dog for Autism is one of the most complex and difficult programs in our portfolio. These dogs have to be trained to deal with or assist in various challenges of Autism.
We have worked with a lot of success with High & Low functioning parts of the spectrum along with individuals as young as 18 months old.This has allowed us to develop tools and techniques to help with many of the challenges that autism presents.
From self-injurious behavior such as head banging to stopping a child from bolting into traffic a service dog can assist in various ways.
What Can A Service Dog Do?
Assist With Safety Issues
Many individuals on the spectrum have no concept of safety or danger. From bolting towards the street, to stranger danger, to climbing on objects. These action can take just seconds to occur, but could have life long consequences.
A service dog can be trained to block from going into the street; resist bolting while tethered; bringing back the individual if they wonder away; and alerting you as a parent to something potentially dangerous.
Interrupt or Reduce Meltdowns
Troubles with communicating needs, and transitioning to unfamiliar environments tends to lead to the individual getting extremely upset (meltdowns).
A service dog can help reduce the severity and frequency of meltdowns.
Interrupting Stimming or Self-Injurious Behaviors
Stimming behavior can be considered anything from hand flapping, pattern walking, repeated verbalizations, or to more dangerous self-injurious behavior such as picking one's skin until they bleed or head banging.
A service dog can help reduce or redirect these types of behaviors
Program Options
Select the training program that best fits your needs.
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Autism Service Dog FAQ
A Service Dog For Autism Is a Tool To Be Used A service dog for autism, more than any other disability, is a tool for Parents, Therapists, and teachers to utilize as a tool to connect with and mitigate the challenges of Autism. Utilizing the service dog appropriately you can:
Many individuals with Autism have extreme difficulty sleeping at night. Some will get up after only a couple hours or minutes of sleep and be up for hours afterwards.
A service dog can help them get to sleep faster and sleep longer. Used in conjunction with specialized training, the service dog can provide Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT) in various ways to help the individual feel more comfortable in their own bed.
Companionship, love, thinking of others is hard for many kids on the spectrum. The service dog can be a bridge to teach these basic social concepts. You can also teach assisted daily living tasks (ADL's) such as brushing hair or teeth, and feeding times.
Changes in normal routine, times, and environments can be difficult for many Autistic individuals.
A service dog can be a calming presence that is consistent among the many challenging environments out in public or with life events.
Many of our autism clients have limited or no language skills when we start working with them. Over the course of boot camp and beyond through the use of the service dog many have gained significant verbal communication or even started talking in the first place.
Instead of being the so called "weird kid" that yells, screams, jumps around, and gets upset all the time, they become the cool kid with a dog. One of the side benefits of a Service Dog for Autism is to help with social interaction & social skills. The dog is the commonality that provides a basis for connection. Properly trained & used it can make a huge difference in the acceptance of a person on the spectrum in the social context.
