Best Dogs for Kids With Autism

Best Dogs for Kids With Autism

Autism can be a challenging condition for your child, though the addition of a dog into your family unit can help your child get relief from certain symptoms of autism and start feeling more confident in their daily lives. Many different dog breeds can provide companionships to those with autism, though some dogs are better than others at performing autism service dog or autism support dog duties.

Our article tells you more about the best dogs for kids with autism.

How Can a Dog Help a Child With Autism?

Dogs can help children with autism by relieving anxiety symptoms, providing guidance and support to their humans, and allowing their humans to feel more confident in public. These dogs may provide a sense of routine and companionship, and they may also be trained to recognize and interrupt self-harming behavior. Many larger dogs can also provide grounding support and deep-pressure therapy to help a child with autism calm down.

Best Dogs for Kids With Autism: Breeds to Know

The following breeds are some of the best choices for helping a child with autism. All of these dogs are larger, gentle, and friendly, and they are easily trained and observant; these qualities make them perfect for helping a child with autism navigate the world.

Golden Retriever

Golden retrievers are the iconic family dog due to their friendly natures, their gentle disposition, and the affection they have for their families. These dogs are easily trained, and they are large enough to guide a child with autism, provide deep pressure therapy, and interrupt any self-harming behaviors. Your golden retriever is likely to form a strong bond with your family, and they are incredibly loving and loyal.

Newfoundland

Gentle giants, the Newfoundland dog breed is larger than life. These dogs have big personalities and large bodies, though they are affectionate, loving, and highly tolerant. This dog can help calm your child with autism, and they are large enough to provide comfort, anxiety relief, and emotional support as needed.

St. Bernard

Another large breed, St. Bernards, are often referred to as ‘nanny dogs.’ These pups are watchful, gentle, and loving, and they are likely to keep a close eye on your child with autism. They are strong and large enough to provide deep pressure therapy and guidance support, and they are easily trained and eager to be around their families all day.

Bernese Mountain Dog

Affectionate, gentle, and patient, these dogs are ideal for children with autism due to their tolerant natures. These pups are observant and adaptable, and they are very intelligent, which means they can easily learn what your child needs to feel safe and comfortable.

Labrador Retriever

Another iconic family dog, the labrador retriever, is a good option for children with autism. These dogs are patient and loving, and they often form strong bonds with their humans. With their intelligence and eagerness to learn, they can be a great choice for service dog work or simply acting as a companion to your child.

Poodle

The standard-sized poodle is best for helping children with autism, as these dogs are intelligent, large enough to provide comfort and guidance, and very loyal. Your poodle is easily trained, and they love to play with their owners and enjoy their family’s company. They are also quite tolerant and adaptable to different situations, which makes them a great addition to a number of different situations your child might experience.

Does My Dog Need to Be a Service Dog?

Adopting a dog to help your child with autism doesn’t necessarily mean adopting a service dog. Service dogs can be expensive, and sometimes all your child needs is companionship and guidance instead of a fully trained service dog. Whether or not you adopt a service dog for autism or train your own autism service dog is up to you, and this decision should be based on your child’s specific needs.

If your child doesn’t quite need a service dog but still needs companionship from a dog, an emotional support animal (ESA) is a good idea. ESAs provide comfort, support, and companionship to your child without needing to meet the extensive training requirements of service dogs. Your ESA will also have the legal right to live alongside your child in any suitable area of housing.

Helping Your Child With Autism

Making sure your child with autism gets the support they need can look different for everyone, and sometimes, a dog to help with autism is exactly what you need. Dog breeds that help children with autism are overall patient, calm, and gentle, and these dogs are highly observant in addition to being large enough to provide support as needed. Make sure that you meet with any doctors or mental healthcare providers before adopting a dog for your child with autism to ensure it meets your child’s treatment plan needs.

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