I am researching this for a friend. does anyone have any knowledge or experience? the cost is very high to purchase/adopt one.
thanks!
Have you contacted Canine Companions? It’s funny I was at the pharmacy today and there was a lady with a young lab who was being trained as an autism dog. I’m sorry I didn’t see the name of the group on his vest, but it wasn’t Canine Companions. You could call CC and ask them for their references, ideas etc. I’m sure they know all the reputable groups doing training. Good luck with your search.
[QUOTE=Brookes;8899156]
Have you contacted Canine Companions? It’s funny I was at the pharmacy today and there was a lady with a young lab who was being trained as an autism dog. I’m sorry I didn’t see the name of the group on his vest, but it wasn’t Canine Companions. You could call CC and ask them for their references, ideas etc. I’m sure they know all the reputable groups doing training. Good luck with your search.[/QUOTE]
thank you! what a great website. those dogs are amazing!
I have two friends who use a dog for their autistic sons. Both say they have worked miracles for them. One has a lot of assets that allowed her to use numerous different therapies, including horse’s, most of which helped, but none of them made as big of a difference as what the dog has.
https://plus.google.com/105550936951245999886
This should work as a link to a blog about the journey of her son and the arrival and changes that she has seen with the service dog. It is worth the read. Even though Carrie is better off than some, she still used fundraising to get the money for “Jake.” And seeing what he has done, it was sooo worth it.
I’m glad that the dog worked out for your friend but please please do your research before giving a dime to Warren Retrievers. They are known scammers and have multiple lawsuits pending.
Service dogs are a godsend and well trained ones are worth their weight in gold. Please do your homework into whatever company you are looking into. There are lots of companies either don’t train dogs to the level they should be or just take advantage of the disabled.
info passed along. thanks!
What exactly do you expect from a dog? Some dogs simply pick the child. A friend of mine has a severely autistic and downs adopted child. One puppy from all her litters simply decided Charlie was hers to look after and now sticks to him full time. So one potential show dog became a cherished “companion animal”.
[QUOTE=2enduraceriders;8900604]
What exactly do you expect from a dog? Some dogs simply pick the child. A friend of mine has a severely autistic and downs adopted child. One puppy from all her litters simply decided Charlie was hers to look after and now sticks to him full time. So one potential show dog became a cherished “companion animal”.[/QUOTE]
I am just gathering info for a friend. I don’t exactly know what she is looking for in a service dog.
what good luck for Charlie! I am sure that pup was a special dog!!!
I have never worked with this organization, but looks pretty cool!
http://www.autismservicedogsofamerica.org/
Keep us posted? I would love to know more about the whole Autism Service Dog idea - I would love that kind of career!!! Not sure what I would do, but that would be something I am interested in 
[QUOTE=EquestrianRunner;8900886]
I have never worked with this organization, but looks pretty cool!
http://www.autismservicedogsofamerica.org/
Keep us posted? I would love to know more about the whole Autism Service Dog idea - I would love that kind of career!!! Not sure what I would do, but that would be something I am interested in :)[/QUOTE]
I passed it alone and I’ll try to remember if she gets a dog for her grandchild.
My son and I are ADHD and his growing up was a trial. I cannot imagine having an autistic child.
[QUOTE=HannahsMom7;8901993]
I passed it alone and I’ll try to remember if she gets a dog for her grandchild.
My son and I are ADHD and his growing up was a trial. I cannot imagine having an autistic child.[/QUOTE]
I also have ADHD…and, horses, dogs, anxiety, dyslexia, and trying to get my nephew a pony…one good thing about ADHD is that I am a very visual person, and it makes memorizing dressage tests and jump courses really easy 
Anyway I have witnessed the AMAZING impact that horses and dogs can have on Autistic children and other people with cognitive differences. And I would love to figure out how to turn something related to that into a career.
Have a good night
I know and trust the folks that started www.gooddogautismcompanions.org. Lots of info on their website
[QUOTE=Magicboy;8902300]
I know and trust the folks that started www.gooddogautismcompanions.org. Lots of info on their website[/QUOTE]
'thank you I have passed it along.
I hope it works out. There’s a lot of fundraising efforts involved with getting a service dog unless someone can underwrite it.
I hope your friend is not intending to tie the child to the dog. Some parents want to go that route. More research shows that is not the safest idea. Just throwing that out there.
