you may have seen a (UK) tv programme not too long ago about an autistic boy who was helped immensely by his relationship with a golden retriever his family got as a puppy. It was based on a real dog and real people. Very good story though I was unhappy with the bad example set of leaving the boy alone with a new dog.
Now I have found out that Guide Dogs in Ireland is training assistance dogs for autistic children, as well as training guide dogs for blind people. I don't know how the organisation branched out to this new work. There was an article in the magazine section of last Saturday's "Irish Times", about a boy who has an assistance dog, a cross between a poodle and a golden retriever. His parents got the idea from another article in the Irish Times (which I didn't see) which told about the new training programme.
The dogs keep ahold of children who tend to wander or run off, and the children are easier to take into unfamiliar settings when they have their dog beside them.
Now I have found out that Guide Dogs in Ireland is training assistance dogs for autistic children, as well as training guide dogs for blind people. I don't know how the organisation branched out to this new work. There was an article in the magazine section of last Saturday's "Irish Times", about a boy who has an assistance dog, a cross between a poodle and a golden retriever. His parents got the idea from another article in the Irish Times (which I didn't see) which told about the new training programme.
The dogs keep ahold of children who tend to wander or run off, and the children are easier to take into unfamiliar settings when they have their dog beside them.
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