Best breed of dogs for kids with autism

[Guest guest]

Can anyone advise on the best breed of dogs for our children ? A patient breed

that doesn't mind being pulled about a bit ! We are thinking lab or cavalier

king spaniel but we are also thinking about the shedding issues .

Someone suggested labradoodle. Any ideas / experiences ?

[Guest guest]

The breed of the dog will not matter as much as the dogs temperament. We currently have a lab and labradoodle that have the best temperaments, but I had them temperament tested by a professional trainer before we brought them home. Our labradoodle sheds more than the lab or possibly any dog in the world. While labs are known for shedding, they do not require baths often and the grooming is minimal and shedding can be minimal if you brush them with a furminator. The labradoodle requires bathing at least once a week and haircuts at least every other month. You will want a dog that is calm, cool and collected. This is not normally a puppy. The stress a puppy brings to the house can be overwhelming with housebreaking and teething. I highly suggest adopting from prison dog programs were the dog comes home with basic obedience.

 

Can anyone advise on the best breed of dogs for our children ? A patient breed that doesn't mind being pulled about a bit ! We are thinking lab or cavalier king spaniel but we are also thinking about the shedding issues . Someone suggested labradoodle. Any ideas / experiences ?

[Guest guest]

It probably sounds crazy, unless you have experience with them, but our pitbull is the gentlest, most patient animal imaginable. When my daughter brought her home, Noah was still terrified of dogs, but Bella the pitbull won his heart. Now that Noah's not afraid of her anymore, unfortunately he is way too rough with her, but Bella never gets angry, never even growls, just looks at him sadly and licks him all over. She barely sheds, and even though I'm allergic to dogs, I've never had a problem with her.

Regards,

To: sList Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2011 3:28 PMSubject: Best breed of dogs for kids with autism

Can anyone advise on the best breed of dogs for our children ? A patient breed that doesn't mind being pulled about a bit ! We are thinking lab or cavalier king spaniel but we are also thinking about the shedding issues . Someone suggested labradoodle. Any ideas / experiences ?

[Guest guest]

We love our Westie (terrier). He has such a wonderful personality and is so patient with our son. He has never growled or bitten....no matter what Max does to him. I thought that getting a dog was going to be great for him...but the dog is great for all of us!Good luckSent from my iPad

It probably sounds crazy, unless you have experience with them, but our pitbull is the gentlest, most patient animal imaginable. When my daughter brought her home, Noah was still terrified of dogs, but Bella the pitbull won his heart. Now that Noah's not afraid of her anymore, unfortunately he is way too rough with her, but Bella never gets angry, never even growls, just looks at him sadly and licks him all over. She barely sheds, and even though I'm allergic to dogs, I've never had a problem with her.

Regards,

To: sList Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2011 3:28 PMSubject: Best breed of dogs for kids with autism

Can anyone advise on the best breed of dogs for our children ? A patient breed that doesn't mind being pulled about a bit ! We are thinking lab or cavalier king spaniel but we are also thinking about the shedding issues . Someone suggested labradoodle. Any ideas / experiences ?

[Guest guest]

It may only sound crazy because of the myths about pitbulls, but I second this : I have known 2 pitbulls very well, played with my dog everyday, and they were just as kind and gentle and patient as any dog I have ever known, with my little poodle biting them and nipping, not once did they growl or nip back. And there are always lots up for adoption.

Clara

To: sList Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2011 3:57:20 PMSubject: Re: Best breed of dogs for kids with autism

It probably sounds crazy, unless you have experience with them, but our pitbull is the gentlest, most patient animal imaginable. When my daughter brought her home, Noah was still terrified of dogs, but Bella the pitbull won his heart. Now that Noah's not afraid of her anymore, unfortunately he is way too rough with her, but Bella never gets angry, never even growls, just looks at him sadly and licks him all over. She barely sheds, and even though I'm allergic to dogs, I've never had a problem with her.

Regards,

To: sList Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2011 3:28 PMSubject: Best breed of dogs for kids with autism

Can anyone advise on the best breed of dogs for our children ? A patient breed that doesn't mind being pulled about a bit ! We are thinking lab or cavalier king spaniel but we are also thinking about the shedding issues . Someone suggested labradoodle. Any ideas / experiences ?

[Guest guest]

We have an Australian shepherd and he is fabulous. We would be happy for you to bring your child over to meet him. JaneSent from my iPhonePlease excuse typos

Can anyone advise on the best breed of dogs for our children ? A patient breed that doesn't mind being pulled about a bit ! We are thinking lab or cavalier king spaniel but we are also thinking about the shedding issues . Someone suggested labradoodle. Any ideas / experiences ?

[Guest guest]

A trainer in California recommended that we get a Havenese. It was great advice. My son Sammy (who is turning five on January 1) adores her.

We bought her last January for his fourth birthday. Bella is unbelievably loving and sweet. He generally plays well with her, but she tolerates when he is in a bad mood and does things like grab her tail, shove his hand down her throat, sit on her, etc. Needless to spend more time protecting her from him than vice versa! Since we've gotten her, he has learned to play much more nicely with her and LOVES walking her.

PS---Havenese are small (8-12 pounds) long hair dogs that do not shed and are hypoallergenic (thankfully!). They are easily trained, but difficult to house break. A purebred runs around $1,000 and is well worth it.

Best breed of dogs for kids with autism

Can anyone advise on the best breed of dogs for our children ? A patient breed that doesn't mind being pulled about a bit ! We are thinking lab or cavalier king spaniel but we are also thinking about the shedding issues . Someone suggested labradoodle. Any ideas / experiences ?

[Guest guest]

,

Please, Please, Please do NOT get either! No, No, NO....I can get you in touch with my daughter, who has spent the past 4 years interining with our cousin out of state. Our cousin is an animal behaviorist. So, my daughter is a GREAT resourse and will discuss each breed with you, your families life style and what breed will work for you! You need a breed to work with your family, Lab are working dogs and need a lot of attention and work and shed a lot! She has training our dog, who is a service dog, for our son with Autism. We have a Boston Terrier. She can let you know if that is a good breed for your family. Please email me back privately, at feldpeople@... and I will get you in touch with her and you can talk!

Looking forward to helping you out!

Sheryl

To: sList From: fode_uk@...Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2011 20:28:56 +0000Subject: Best breed of dogs for kids with autism

Can anyone advise on the best breed of dogs for our children ? A patient breed that doesn't mind being pulled about a bit ! We are thinking lab or cavalier king spaniel but we are also thinking about the shedding issues . Someone suggested labradoodle. Any ideas / experiences ?

[Guest guest]

We have a Wheaten Terrier and she is the most gentle loving dog I have ever had. They are hypoallegetic so they do need to be groomed but we only have to do it about every 4 months. My son pulls her hair when he gets angry at us and she just sits there and takes it. My neighbor has a goldendoodle and he is beautiful but a bit of a handful. I think it all depends more on the dogs personality than the actual breed. We also have an australian shepard that was suggested to us for a child with special needs, but she is not quite as gentle as the wheatie. And she sheds a lot! I did see an aussiepoo at the pet store a few weeks ago and it was totally adorable and seemed like such a great combo of a breed. Super smart but nonsheding. I would definatly go for a nonshedding dog.As

parents of special children, we have enough to do! Good luck!! and Simon To: sList Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2011 3:29 PM Subject: Re: Best breed of dogs for kids with autism

A trainer in California recommended that we get a Havenese. It was great advice. My son Sammy (who is turning five on January 1) adores her.

We bought her last January for his fourth birthday. Bella is unbelievably loving and sweet. He generally plays well with her, but she tolerates when he is in a bad mood and does things like grab her tail, shove his hand down her throat, sit on her, etc. Needless to spend more time protecting her from him than vice versa! Since we've gotten her, he has learned to play much more nicely with her and LOVES walking her.

PS---Havenese are small (8-12 pounds) long hair dogs that do not shed and are hypoallergenic (thankfully!). They are easily trained, but difficult to house break. A purebred runs around $1,000 and is well worth it.

Best breed of dogs for kids with autism

Can anyone advise on the best breed of dogs for our children ? A patient breed that doesn't mind being pulled about a bit ! We are thinking lab or cavalier king spaniel but we are also thinking about the shedding issues . Someone suggested labradoodle. Any ideas / experiences ?

[Guest guest]

Just a follow up note on this for information only, but I believe pit bulls are not allowed in Miami Dade County.

Joyce

Subject: Re: Best breed of dogs for kids with autismTo: sList Date: Sunday, November 27, 2011, 1:47 PM

It may only sound crazy because of the myths about pitbulls, but I second this : I have known 2 pitbulls very well, played with my dog everyday, and they were just as kind and gentle and patient as any dog I have ever known, with my little poodle biting them and nipping, not once did they growl or nip back. And there are always lots up for adoption.

Clara

To: sList Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2011 3:57:20 PMSubject: Re: Best breed of dogs for kids with autism

It probably sounds crazy, unless you have experience with them, but our pitbull is the gentlest, most patient animal imaginable. When my daughter brought her home, Noah was still terrified of dogs, but Bella the pitbull won his heart. Now that Noah's not afraid of her anymore, unfortunately he is way too rough with her, but Bella never gets angry, never even growls, just looks at him sadly and licks him all over. She barely sheds, and even though I'm allergic to dogs, I've never had a problem with her.

Regards,

To: sList Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2011 3:28 PMSubject: Best breed of dogs for kids with autism

Can anyone advise on the best breed of dogs for our children ? A patient breed that doesn't mind being pulled about a bit ! We are thinking lab or cavalier king spaniel but we are also thinking about the shedding issues . Someone suggested labradoodle. Any ideas / experiences ?

[Guest guest]

well, i have a shih tzu, i've had my "meko" for 7 years now and he's been great with my son who's 17 yrs old now autism and epilepsy. "meko" is also trained to let me know when my son has seizures...he just did it one day and he's very protective of my son every since.... he been a joy to our family a very sturdy spunky dog.....

[Guest guest]

I have worked with dogs for the past 20 years as I owned and operated a full service pet care facility as well as working as an animal control officer. Based upon my experiences a Cavalier King Spaniel would not make a good fit only because they are fragile. Labs can have wonderfully goofy dispositions but because of over breeding they have become quite neurotic. Despite having the "hypoallergenic" reputation, Labradoodles do shed. The only breeds that do not shed are poodles and hairless breeds like the Chinese Crested. Standard Poodles make excellent service dogs because they are easily trained and usually very gentle. Golden retrievers make wonderful therapy/service dogs as well but do shed. I have two English Bulldogs and they are wonderful with my Autistic child because they are relatively unbreakable and extremely patient.

Best breed of dogs for kids with autism

Can anyone advise on the best breed of dogs for our children ? A patient breed that doesn't mind being pulled about a bit ! We are thinking lab or cavalier king spaniel but we are also thinking about the shedding issues . Someone suggested labradoodle. Any ideas / experiences ?

[Guest guest]

Westies make the best family dogs! I love the breed. Bischons as well.

Best breed of dogs for kids with autism

Can anyone advise on the best breed of dogs for our children ? A patient breed that doesn't mind being pulled about a bit ! We are thinking lab or cavalier king spaniel but we are also thinking about the shedding issues . Someone suggested labradoodle. Any ideas / experiences ?

[Guest guest]

I am not sure there is such a thing as a "best breed". Most breeds have the potential of being good breeds, as long as the owners take the time to train them. I would recommend adopting an adult dog, because most of the training is done, and the dogs personality is evident. For many having a child with autism is time consumptive adding in the training of a puppy has the potential to add to this. In 22 years of working with children with autism, I have seen pits, labradors, border collies, great danes, adopted grey hounds, and every form of mutt be a wonderful addition to families. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&TSender: sList Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2011 22:13:24 -0500 (EST)To: <sList >ReplyTo: sList Subject: RE: Best breed of dogs for kids with autism well, i have a shih tzu, i've had my "meko" for 7 years now and he's been great with my son who's 17 yrs old now autism and epilepsy. "meko" is also trained to let me know when my son has seizures...he just did it one day and he's very protective of my son every since.... he been a joy to our family a very sturdy spunky dog.....

[Guest guest]

Some cities may prohibit pitbull ownership. Check the local ordinances.

Also, many communities also prohibit residents from owning pitbulls. If you have an HOA or live in a condo or apartmetn, make sure you check the rules if you decide to buy a pitbull.

Finally, if you live in a condo or apartment, check the rules for weight restrictions.

Best breed of dogs for kids with autism

Can anyone advise on the best breed of dogs for our children ? A patient breed that doesn't mind being pulled about a bit ! We are thinking lab or cavalier king spaniel but we are also thinking about the shedding issues . Someone suggested labradoodle. Any ideas / experiences ?

[Guest guest]

Havenese are members of the Bichon family. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havanese.

As I said before, my almost five year old son Sammy loves his Havenese, Bella (who loves him back). Bella doesn't shed and is hypoallergenic (I'm allergic to dogs and have NO problems with her even though I've spent hours with her at a time).

brought up a great point though in a prior post about the sturdiness of some small dogs .........Havenese are small (8-12 pounds), aren't particularly sturdy and aren't nearly as sturdy as larger dogs. We figured we'd watch Sammy with her and that we could teach him to be gentle. So far, so good, though I'd be lying if I said that it's not a work in progress (he wants to wrestle with her like he wrestles with daddy. Of course, I'm learning the limits of how much my almost 45 year old body can take also, lol).

Best breed of dogs for kids with autism

Can anyone advise on the best breed of dogs for our children ? A patient breed that doesn't mind being pulled about a bit ! We are thinking lab or cavalier king spaniel but we are also thinking about the shedding issues . Someone suggested labradoodle. Any ideas / experiences ?

[Guest guest]

I agree w/ the other poster who said, it isn't necessarily the breed that

matters. We have had a rottweiler mix - she puts up with meltdowns, being

hugged, etc. and prior to her we had a male shepherd/ collie mix. Collies tend

to be mild in temperament and the mix was good. That dog let the kids lie on

him, hang on him, etc. There are dogs who are high strung or who can become

defensive that wouldn't be suitable. A good place to find info on the various

breeds is: http://animal.discovery.com/breed-selector/dog-breeds.html

It is an Animal Planet site. In the end letting your child meet the dog and the

dog meet the child, will probably help you choose. You may find what you think

is the perfect dog, but when your child meets the animal, there may be something

in it's size or looks that the child doesn't like or is afraid of. Good luck

and I know you will find a great dog. (Even the local animal shelters have

great animals. Our second dog came from the pound and she had been abused. she

is a great dog.)

Glenda

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> It probably sounds crazy, unless you have experience with them, but our

pitbull is the gentlest, most patient animal imaginable. When my daughter

brought her home, Noah was still terrified of dogs, but Bella the pitbull won

his heart. Now that Noah's not afraid of her anymore, unfortunately he is way

too rough with her, but Bella never gets angry, never even growls, just looks at

him sadly and licks him all over. She barely sheds, and even though I'm

allergic to dogs, I've never had a problem with her.

>

> Regards,

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> To: sList

> Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2011 3:28 PM

> Subject: Best breed of dogs for kids with autism

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> Can anyone advise on the best breed of dogs for our children ? A patient breed

that doesn't mind being pulled about a bit ! We are thinking lab or cavalier

king spaniel but we are also thinking about the shedding issues .

Someone suggested labradoodle. Any ideas / experiences ?

>

[Guest guest]

Don't get me wrong: English bulldogs are my favorite. My sister works for the White House Marine Band and the bulldog is the mascot. This is why I know a lot about the breed. They come with a lot of health problems and have a terrible time existing in South Florida because they can't breathe well in the heat and the humidity. They also have hip problems and are also prone to seizures. Yes, they are great dogs for families but probably not the best to get attached to and then have to spend a fortune at the vet and possibly even have to put to sleep after a few years (this happened to one of the band members who only had the dog for a year). Not to mention that the bulldogs are the MOST expensive breed right now since they are so popular.

Joyce

Subject: Re: Best breed of dogs for kids with autismTo: sList Date: Monday, November 28, 2011, 2:57 AM

I have worked with dogs for the past 20 years as I owned and operated a full service pet care facility as well as working as an animal control officer. Based upon my experiences a Cavalier King Spaniel would not make a good fit only because they are fragile. Labs can have wonderfully goofy dispositions but because of over breeding they have become quite neurotic. Despite having the "hypoallergenic" reputation, Labradoodles do shed. The only breeds that do not shed are poodles and hairless breeds like the Chinese Crested. Standard Poodles make excellent service dogs because they are easily trained and usually very gentle. Golden retrievers make wonderful therapy/service dogs as well but do shed. I have two English Bulldogs and they are wonderful with my Autistic child because they are relatively unbreakable and extremely patient.

Best breed of dogs for kids with autism

Can anyone advise on the best breed of dogs for our children ? A patient breed that doesn't mind being pulled about a bit ! We are thinking lab or cavalier king spaniel but we are also thinking about the shedding issues . Someone suggested labradoodle. Any ideas / experiences ?

[Guest guest]

We have 3 male Westies and although they are the greatest dogs in the world, mine are not terrific with kids. They were brought up with kids but tend to not want to be bothered by them. Some Westies are better then others with children. My sister got a Goldendoodle from a hand raised farm in GA and it is a lovely dog with 4 children! I guess any breed will work as long as you know the personality ahead of time. As far as shedding, we find huge hairballs in the corners of the rooms from the Westies even though there is no hair on the floors per say.

[Guest guest]

I would get a little older mixed dog...or maybe one from a rescue that is in

foster. They usually have a really good feel for the dog and can help you choose

one that loves kids and doesnt mind being kissed, hugged and tugged with love.

[Guest guest]

You are correct, they are illegal in Dade.

Best breed of dogs for kids with autism

Can anyone advise on the best breed of dogs for our children ? A patient breed that doesn't mind being pulled about a bit ! We are thinking lab or cavalier king spaniel but we are also thinking about the shedding issues . Someone suggested labradoodle. Any ideas / experiences ?

[Guest guest]

I have bread and shown Bulldogs aka English Bulldogs for several decades and you are accurate about their special needs and health concerns. However, a well bread (not pet shop bought) Bulldog will have a health guarantee and if there are any health issues for the first few years of the dogs life the breeder will compensate you for your financial loss or offer you another puppy. Bulldogs suffer breathing issues in any climate but they are particularly bad down here. There are bona fide couch potatoes and spend 99% of their life sleeping on the couch, eating, and passing gas and not necessarily in that order. The extremely high price for these dogs are due to the fact that they have to be artificially inseminated and they require c-sections to deliver so most breeders barely break even after selling a litter. This breed is not for everyone but I can't imagine my life without one.They are amazing with children and they barely notice when my child rolls over them, runs into them with his scooter, rides them like horses, and is constantly messing with their ears. They are built like center blocks and are virtually indestructible. While their life spans are 9 to 12 years, my oldest bulldog, Henry Wrinkler is a spry 14 years old. He is completely blind and barely hears a thing but if you open the scooby snack bag he can hear it a mile away. I have attached a picture of Henry Wrinkler and my son Zander a few Christmases ago. It is too cute! I love sharing pics of my kids.

Best breed of dogs for kids with autism

Can anyone advise on the best breed of dogs for our children ? A patient breed that doesn't mind being pulled about a bit ! We are thinking lab or cavalier king spaniel but we are also thinking about the shedding issues . Someone suggested labradoodle. Any ideas / experiences ?

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[Guest guest]

They shed a lot and Terriers can be persnickety but overall Westies are the best of the bunch. They are big dogs in little dog bodies. They will excavate your backyard if you give them half a second as Terriers were born to dig. I love their zest for life and their big brown eyes will make you fall in love with them.

Re: Best breed of dogs for kids with autism

We have 3 male Westies and although they are the greatest dogs in the world, mine are not terrific with kids. They were brought up with kids but tend to not want to be bothered by them. Some Westies are better then others with children. My sister got a Goldendoodle from a hand raised farm in GA and it is a lovely dog with 4 children! I guess any breed will work as long as you know the personality ahead of time. As far as shedding, we find huge hairballs in the corners of the rooms from the Westies even though there is no hair on the floors per say.

[Guest guest]

Spaniels have the highest incident of biting.I would go with labs or retrievers-very protective and good with kids.I would suggest getting them young so the dog can grow up with your child. A dog from a shelter, IMHO, would not be safe for children with special needs “IN GENERAL”-You don’t really know the history, and I know from my own experience you need a pet that is pliable-not older and set in their ways-unless you get a service dog that is trained specifically for a purpose.Pit bulls/American Staffordshire Terriers can and for the most part good dogs-until humans get involved and abuse them, turn them mean and “pit” them to fight.Sherry

[Guest guest]

I have a Shitzu. He is the sweetest, doesn’t “shed”, and has the best disposition with both kids. “Mushu” has worked out for our family.

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