New here: dog for my autistic son

[Monsmom]

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Hello, I joined as I wanted to hear the opinion of dog owners and experts. We would love a dog for the family, but this dog should love and tolerate my 8 year old autistic son who also has epilepsy and a physical disability - I say tolerate as my son can be loud. He is a very gentle and cuddly child but he plays loudly with toys (banging and spinning them) and loves his drum. Also we have a two year old feisty daughter. Both kids know dogs quite well (through friends visiting regularly with their dogs). What breeds would be good? I have read retrievers and retriever mixes with poodles. Ideally would be a dog that does not shed to much. I would be able to put a lot of training in the dog as I would love it if the dog could become a great friend to my son but know that I would have to work hard for this as my son is non verbal and really quite disabled. Would an older dog be better? Sorry for the many questions.

 

[Raven oaktree]

Hello and welcome to the forum, its a very friendly place to be . I have a very disabled child too, and know just how great a good dog can can be for them Have you thought about apply here for a service dog for him?..Rather than train one yourself they might be able to meet your childs needs

http://www.dogsforthedisabled.org/what-we-do/services/assistance-dogs-child-autism/

it can take a while to sort out so if it were me i would contact them and get my name on the list , but this way the dog will be trained especially with your sons needs in mind and the rest of the family will still benifit from having a dog

 

[Monsmom]

Thank you Raven Oaktree. I have been in touch with that organisation but unfortunately they do not accept anyone now. We went on a special course designed for parents of autistic kids and the specialists there thought it would be good to have a properly trained dog and we have been speaking a few times to support dogs but I think when you have a learning disability plus physical plus autism and epilepsy there is no organisation quite yet in the uk that is specialised. Not ideal but I know how much my son loves animals and that he has no chance in finding friends, so I will try to find a way (well I have already looked into it for the last 3 years... But do not want to make rash decision).