Cities to Vacation with Your Autism Dog

When planning a vacation with your Autism Dog, there are many cities that are more accommodating than others.   
In Chicago, Illinois, you can explore the Navy Pier or dine in nice restaurants whose friendly wait staff are more than happy to provide your service dog a bowl of water and some meaty scraps from the kitchen.  In Chicago you can feast on a Chicago-Style pizza while your service dog sits under your table or right to you without the worries of people staring or whispering.  Chicago loves dogs.  
Seattle, Washington is another fine city to vacation in a stress-free environment while traveling with your dog.  There are many pet-friendly venues in this popular dog-friendly city.   

Minneapolis, Minnesota is also known to have a very pet-friendly atmosphere throughout with beautiful hiking trails and parks. 

Service Dog Friendly Cities

Often times children and individuals with autism who have service dogs can find it difficult to navigate their home towns with the proper support and resources they need.   Many people stare and judge and give unwelcoming glances toward their direction.  This causes friction and makes the individual with autism uncomfortable in their own surroundings and neighborhood. There are cities which are more dog friendly than your average city which means your child with autism and his or her dog are going to have an easier time.  
The cities which are best considered the most dog friendly according to Dog Channel website are:

• Portland, Oregon
• Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Albuquerque, New Mexico

 

Air Travel with a Service Dog

A question often comes up regarding air travel with a service dog. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) promulgated the official regulations implementing the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). The following summarizes what the ACAA says:

• All airline carriers shall permit dogs and other service animals used by persons with disabilities to accompany the persons on a flight. 
• All airline carriers shall accept as evidence that an animal is a service animal to include identifiers such as ID cards, other written documentation, presence of harnesses, tags or the credible verbal assurances of a qualified individual with a disability using the animal.
• All airline carriers shall permit a service animal to accompany a qualified individual with a disability in any seat in which the person sits, unless the animal obstructs an aisle or other area that must remain unobstructed in order to facilitate an emergency evacuation or to comply with FAA regulations.

Why Little Dogs Don't Make Good Service Dogs

Although very cute and cuddly, little dogs do not make good service dogs, because of the size and also due to their characteristically high strong and hyper behaviors.  Little dogs are often very excitable and service dogs need to remain cool and calm so they can always be focused on their tasks and never forget for a second their purpose. Little dogs are also unable to prevent a child from walking out into the middle of a street, whereas a larger dog can block the pathway of a child and if needed, gently grab onto the child's arms and/or wrists with their mouth. Small dogs are not to take such measures.  However, small dogs are great companions for service dogs when they are off duty and want another canine pal.  Service dogs spend so much time working that having a small companion dog can provide some much needed doggie play time when they are not acting an as Autism or other service-related dog.

Best Dog Breeds for Children With Autism

When deciding which breed of dog is best for your child with autism there are three breeds you should look to:

1. Labrador Retriever is used often with training autism dogs due to their even and friendly temperament and good nature personality.   This breed of dog is typically peaceful with other animals and very responsive to training.  However, some Labradors can be rambunctious and full of energy which makes for great care to be taken into consideration.  
2. Golden Retriever is also a good choice for an autism dog.  They have a trustworthy and cheerful personality and bond easily to their people.  They have a warm kind bark when they greet you.  They also have a solid-build for children who have violent tendencies.  Golden Retrievers however require much exercise and need to be chosen carefully.  
3. If you have a child who has many allergies, a Poodle may be a good choice. They love people and are hypoallergenic.  Poodles are also quick learners and eager to please.  The Poodle is the preferred dog for the Autism Service Dogs of America.    

Find and Train Your Own Autism Dog

To get an autism dog, you can either go through a foundation that does the training and selection for you, but they are very costly and the application process can be very lengthy and time consuming.  Many families are finding and training their own autism dogs. If you are a family who believes you are up to the task, here are some criteria you may want to keep in mind when searching for the right dog.  

1. The first criteria is that your child MUST have an instant connection to the dog.  If this criteria is not met, than it will be next to impossible to have your child work with the dog. 
2. Must be a calm and cool-tempered dog.
3. Cannot be too small or too big.  Small dogs are not practical for service dog training.  And big dogs may accidentally knock over your child.
4. Great with children and other pets including cats.
5. Great overall health. 
6. Easy to walk on a leash. 
7. Must be fixed or spayed. 
8. Pays close attention to his "job" and is very eager to please.  
9. Make sure your dog is up-to-date on his vaccines. 

Best Videos on Autism Dogs

The list below contains heart warming videos on how autism dogs have transformed the lives of children and individuals with autism.  With autism on the rise and unsure of what treatment protocols to follow, one strategy many families and parents and caregivers are pursuing is the use of well-trained dogs to connect and interact with their children and loved ones with autism.  

Autism dogs are trained to help reduce temper tantrums.  They are trained to help with basic life skills and teaching appropriate behaviors and reducing stress levels.  

One of the best ways to demonstrate this strategy is by showing videos.  Watch these videos and be amazed at what these canine companions are doing to help individuals with autism.

Arizona Goldens

Arizona Goldens LLC is an organization that helps place autism dogs with the right family.  Each family and each child and each dog is different.  Arizona Goldens LLC has a multi-step application process that allows for an thorough in-depth look at where the child is on the autism spectrum, because even though the diagnosis is the same, each child is not.  This is especially true for children with autism.  You can have ten different children all labelled with autism and all you have is ten different children, because each child with autism is unique and has unique symptoms.  Not every child with autism will benefit from an autism dog.  That is why Arizona Goldens LLC undergoes a thorough review process.  And once a dog is placed in a home, there is a two-week boot camp where a trainer works in the home with the child so to help establish a bond and work towards improvement. 

Teaching Social & Life Skills

Children and adults with autism are generally withdrawn and struggle with making social contact with others as well as knowing basic life skills. They have been ostracized by so many people that they often times find it easier to avoid contact with others. A dog can help change that for a child or an adult. Dogs understand how to connect with those who are different or have emotional struggles. When a person with autism travels with their dog specially trained to work with them, the dog acts as the person's interpreter. A dog can signal to their person when a certain action is required. For example when a cashier needs to receive money for a prescription or something similar, an autism dog can place his paw on the person's pocket where his wallet his as a reminder of what to do. For more information, check out the autism study through the University of Texas in Austin on the use of dogs to measure social skills in children with autism. 

Story of How A Dog Helped a Child to Speak

Marcy was diagnosed with autism when she was five.  She had next to nothing in verbal skills and always held her head down low.  She was addicted to the movie Lady and the Tramp by Walt Disney Productions.  She watched the film over and over again and wore out a tape.  One day her parents and her were walking by a pet store and Marcy pointed to a puppy in the window and called out "Lady! Lady!" and insisted on taking the dog home.  Her parents, despite having four dogs already, bought the dog and Marcy absolutely adored her new dog named Lady.  The next day on the school bus, Marcy sat down and spoke to the child sitting next to her.  She said, "Marcy got new dog. Lady."  That was the most Marcy had ever spoken in her entire life. From that point on, Marcy's verbal language skills continued to increase and today she speaks to numerous children who have autism about not giving up on your dreams. Marcy is also now an accomplished artist. This story comes from the Autism Society website. 

Introduction to Autism Dogs

The use of therapy dogs has been around for a long time. However, the use of service dogs specifically for individuals with autism is fairly new and not very well known. Individuals and children with autism often are described as being in a shell and disinterested in their surroundings and other people. They will look through people and not at people. Specifically trained dogs can help children and individuals with autism come out of their shells. Dogs seem to have a sense of how to reach people who may need an extra incentive to try and connect to the world around them. Children with autism are considered awkward, odd, shy and distant and typically usually have little or no friends. A dog, however, can become that child's best friend. A dog does not judge. A dog does not make fun. A dog will be your friend and love you unconditionally and that is what a child with autism often needs. Children with autism will first connect emotionally and interact with a dog and that will help the child become more comfortable interacting with people.  For more information about organizations that work with families who have been affected by autism, please review the list below:

1. Autism Service Dogs of America http://autismservicedogsofamerica.com/
2. A Paws for Ability http://4pawsforability.org/autism-assistance-dog/
3. Dogs for Autism http://www.dogsforautism.org/