| Dolphins can help children with autism | | | | cannot say which breed is the best for children with |
| Dolphins are one of the most intelligent animals in the | | | | autism, after all every autistic person is different. You |
| world. Researchers found out that they can help | | | | may need to hire an animal behavioral consultant to |
| people who suffer from neurological disorders, | | | | pick up a dog with you and your child. You can choose |
| especially autistic children. Dolphin therapy is claimed to | | | | several most gentle dogs and bring them outside to |
| increase speech and motor skills of children with | | | | meet your child to see which one can socialize with |
| autism, however, it’s still a controversial topic. | | | | her/him best. |
| Dolphins are popular in human culture because of their | | | | Third, how to pick up an autism service dog? |
| friendly appearance and loveable attitude, in Greek | | | | Proper training is the key in an autism service dog. |
| myths, dolphins are helpers of the Minoans, | | | | Official service dogs are strictly trained on how to |
| messengers of Poseidon. Recently, Dr. Ken Marten at | | | | behave with people. Also, the match of the personality |
| Sea Life Park in Hawai’i demonstrated that dolphins | | | | of the dog and the child is very important. |
| can recognize themselves in mirrors, and, they are also | | | | Horseback riding therapy for autism |
| sentient, fully conscious, with complex language of their | | | | We came back from horseback riding therapy for |
| own. Nowadays, Dolphins are among the most popular | | | | autism. My daughters respite worker and a little old |
| choices of animal-assisted therapy for children with | | | | lady who works at the stable was leading her horse. |
| autism, Down’s syndrome, depression and other | | | | The horse got spooked and took off running and it |
| developmental disabilities and psychological problems. In | | | | ripped the rieigns out of our respite workers hands and |
| dolphin assisted therapy (DAT) programs, kids on the | | | | out of the little old lady?? hands who was leading the |
| Autism Spectrum could swim with dolphins in | | | | horse but it took longer for her to let go so the horse |
| natatorium, and having lessons on land. Commonly, kids | | | | dragged her a few feet. |
| are delighted to pet and play with dolphins, but there is | | | | I was watching and screaming whoa, not that it did |
| no scientific evidence to prove that the dolphin therapy | | | | any good but I didn?? know what to do to get the |
| is effective. | | | | horse to stop. It was very scary and I felt helpless |
| “It provides me with hope, more than anything,” | | | | because my daughter was on the horse as it took off |
| said Omar Ramos, whose son, John-Ross, has autism. | | | | running. She was laughing and enjoy the ride until his |
| “I want my child to be able to experience a lot of | | | | speed threw her from the horse. I was horrified as I |
| different things, and so it gives me a lot of hope, | | | | watched her fly through the air. All I have to say is my |
| especially when I see him being able to do stuff in the | | | | little girl is one tough cookie.I thought she was going to |
| water or with the dolphin, even with a computer.” | | | | get back up and say let?? do that again. She didn?? |
| Many children would enjoy playful interaction with a | | | | but she didn?? seem very effected by the fact that |
| dolphin, however, dolphin therapy can not “cure” | | | | she had just gotten thrown from the horse but my |
| autism as other therapies. But, it can make kids happy, | | | | respite worker was so upset she was crying because |
| so it’s still worth a try. | | | | she felt it was her fault that my daughter got thrown. |
| Service Dogs and Autism | | | | When my daughter saw her crying she began crying. |
| First, do you really need an autism service dog? | | | | So I right away went over to calm our respite worker |
| Special trained dogs can help people with disability to | | | | down while my husband was on the ground with my |
| become more independent, including people with | | | | daugther. I did feel that it was better for all of us to |
| autism. For adults and teens, an service dog is much | | | | remain calm rather than get upset because it would be |
| more practical, because they are capable of handling | | | | harder to find out if my daughter actually got hurt. She |
| the dog by themselves. At the same time, it | | | | appears to be ok. I think she is going to be sore |
| doesn’t mean that autistic children cannot have | | | | tomorrow but she was not affected much by that |
| service dogs, on the contrary, they could benefit kids | | | | whole incident. But I have to say being the one |
| with autism in a lot of ways. For example, if the child | | | | standing on the sidelines watching it, it all looked very |
| doesn’t come or respond when called, the dog can | | | | scary. We have one more week left of the fall |
| help you find him/her quickly, especially in school or | | | | sessions and I don?? know if I am going to go back. |
| other public places. Also, the dog could help the child | | | | They always tell the kids to keep their feet in the |
| become more social with their peers. These are the | | | | stirrups but I think that is scary to do that because if |
| bright side of an autism service dog, but, you have to | | | | my daughters feet got stuck in those stirrups the |
| look at the dark side also to make an final decision. | | | | horse would have dragged her as he raced around |
| The dark side is that the child cannot take care of the | | | | that barn. The other thing I don?? like is that the lady |
| dog, the parent have to look after the dog, too. And | | | | who runs it doesn?? seem to really understand autism |
| the fee of an autism service dog is very high. Besids, a | | | | at all. She talks to the kids like they totally understand |
| dog has about the same intelligence as a three year | | | | everything she says and honestly my daughter can be |
| old, would you trust a three year old with the care of | | | | as unpredicatable as that horse so I think this place |
| your child? Ok, all things considered, let’s suppose | | | | needs to have a better understanding of autism and |
| that you still want a dog, then you must pay attention | | | | also their trained people should be leading those horses |
| to the following questions. | | | | and those who know the rules of the barn so that |
| Second, what is the right Service Dog breed for | | | | they don?? spook the horse but us parents who know |
| autistic people? | | | | nothing about horses are out there leading them. It just |
| These dog breeds are recommended for people on | | | | seems way too dangerous of a combination. She tried |
| the autism spectrum, Newfoundland, bloodhound, | | | | telling me that this has never ever happened but I find |
| border collie, Yellow Labs, golden retriever or other | | | | that hard to believe. The horses they are using seem |
| highly intelligent breed. Many large dogs are great with | | | | old and tired out. None of them wanted to trot. Thank |
| kid, gentle and peaceful. Try to avoid small dogs. I | | | | God she is Ok. |