Re: therapeutic effects of pets

[Guest guest]

I think a pet is one of the most important things you can give a kid with AS.

On 7/5/10 2:21 PM, " mimasdprofile " <callis4773@...> wrote:

My son has a dog. It was meant to be his service dog but the training just didn't work out. Long story. Anyway, the thing is even without this dog being a service dog he is very therapeutic. My son always talks to other people about their pets and tells them about his dog. He loves animals of all kinds. His dog sleeps with him so if he wakes up at night he isn't totally alone. If I suggest to that his dog needs attention it can get away from his computer which is a tough thing to do. Sometimes will take a break to pet his dog even if I don't tell him to.

I've realized for a while that pets help but wasn't sure what to do about getting my daughter one. My husband suggested another dog but the thought of training and getting our dog to accept another dog was just too overwhelming. My daughter doesn't have asperger syndrome but she is very anxious and has OCD and can also be quite sad at times. Medications for anxiety don't work for her and so far the ones that were supposed to help her OCD have only made her worse. She's in play therapy now and that seems to be helping but the best thing for her has been getting her a pet. Well actually two pets. We adopted two rats at the local animal rescue league. Rayleigh has wanted rats for a while. She's seen me in pictures with mine. I started keeping rats as pets after I worked with one in a psychology class. I found they are very smart, friendly and social.

When we started talking about getting rats Rayleigh searched the animal rescue league website and found two of them, sisters, who have been together since birth. I won't adopt just one because they really do need each other. We went to visit these rats the next day and because they're at the rescue league we could really sit and play with them for a while. We spent an hour with them and as the time went on they warmed up to us very well. I pretty much decided we were going to get them but we needed a good cage to keep the dog out. Rayleigh did the research on that as well. She found some current rat owners on youtube by watching videos of pet rats and asked what cages they recommended. 's Cages was recommended several times and I remember that they were in business when I was buying cages for my own rats. So we ordered one and then picked up the rats. We borrowed the cage from the rescue league because they couldn't hold the rats until our cage came.

So far this rat adoption thing has been a very positive thing. We're enjoying our new pets so much and Rayleigh is happier and calmer than I think I've ever seen her. She can sit in her room and they'll climb all over her and if they get into mischief (eating carpeting, climbing on the bed) she picks them up and gets them interested in something else. They are already becoming very comfortable in their new home. We are working on training them to respond to their names by giving them little treats (sunflower kernels or oats) and saying their names at the same time.

I have no regrets.

Miriam

[Guest guest]

II agree.......I think a pet is one of the most important things you could do for any kid!!! hee hee.

Especially a kid with issues. We have one with ADHD adn "extra's", one with anxiety, one with AS, one with sensory stuff. Heck,,,,,,,they're good for everyone!!!! Yay Pets!!!!!!

Attack and enjoy every minute of life.

Try everything.....protect everything.

Robin

My son has a dog. It was meant to be his service dog but the training just didn't work out. Long story. Anyway, the thing is even without this dog being a service dog he is very therapeutic. My son always talks to other people about their pets and tells them about his dog. He loves animals of all kinds. His dog sleeps with him so if he wakes up at night he isn't totally alone. If I suggest to that his dog needs attention it can get away from his computer which is a tough thing to do. Sometimes will take a break to pet his dog even if I don't tell him to.I've realized for a while that pets help but wasn't sure what to do about getting my daughter one. My husband suggested another dog but the thought of training and getting our dog to accept

another dog was just too overwhelming. My daughter doesn't have asperger syndrome but she is very anxious and has OCD and can also be quite sad at times. Medications for anxiety don't work for her and so far the ones that were supposed to help her OCD have only made her worse. She's in play therapy now and that seems to be helping but the best thing for her has been getting her a pet. Well actually two pets. We adopted two rats at the local animal rescue league. Rayleigh has wanted rats for a while. She's seen me in pictures with mine. I started keeping rats as pets after I worked with one in a psychology class. I found they are very smart, friendly and social.When we started talking about getting rats Rayleigh searched the animal rescue league website and found two of them, sisters, who have been together since birth. I won't adopt just one because they really do need each other.

We went to visit these rats the next day and because they're at the rescue league we could really sit and play with them for a while. We spent an hour with them and as the time went on they warmed up to us very well. I pretty much decided we were going to get them but we needed a good cage to keep the dog out. Rayleigh did the research on that as well. She found some current rat owners on youtube by watching videos of pet rats and asked what cages they recommended. 's Cages was recommended several times and I remember that they were in business when I was buying cages for my own rats. So we ordered one and then picked up the rats. We borrowed the cage from the rescue league because they couldn't hold the rats until our cage came.So far this rat adoption thing has been a very positive thing. We're enjoying our new pets so much and Rayleigh is happier and calmer than I think I've ever

seen her. She can sit in her room and they'll climb all over her and if they get into mischief (eating carpeting, climbing on the bed) she picks them up and gets them interested in something else. They are already becoming very comfortable in their new home. We are working on training them to respond to their names by giving them little treats (sunflower kernels or oats) and saying their names at the same time.I have no regrets.Miriam

[Guest guest]

Both of my kids seem to be helped by their pets and I don't think it really

matters what kind as long as it's something the child likes. For some kids it

might be a fish and for my daughter I think most soft/furry pets will do. We

didn't have great experiences with hamsters because they're so small and

delicate and skittish. Some are fairly friendly but they aren't terribly social

by nature and the ones we had were dwarf hamsters so super small and delicate.

Rats are easy to hurt, too, but at least they're bigger and they are very very

social and become attached to their people. For some kids that is important. I

think would do well with a cat but my husband doesn't like them so we've

avoided them. 's guidance counselor at school brings her cats in just so

can see them. She also sent him an email of pix of the cats last week!

>

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > My son has a dog. It was meant to be his service dog but the training just

> > didn't work out. Long story. Anyway, the thing is even without this dog

> > being a service dog he is very therapeutic. My son always talks to other

> > people about their pets and tells them about his dog. He loves animals of

all

> > kinds. His dog sleeps with him so if he wakes up at night he isn't totally

> > alone. If I suggest to that his dog needs attention it can get

away

> > from his computer which is a tough thing to do. Sometimes will take a

> > break to pet his dog even if I don't tell him to.

> >

> > I've realized for a while that pets help but wasn't sure what to do about

> > getting my daughter one. My husband suggested another dog but the thought

of

> > training and getting our dog to accept another dog was just too

overwhelming.

> > My daughter doesn't have asperger syndrome but she is very anxious and has

OCD

> > and can also be quite sad at times. Medications for anxiety don't work for

> > her and so far the ones that were supposed to help her OCD have only made

her

> > worse. She's in play therapy now and that seems to be helping but the best

> > thing for her has been getting her a pet. Well actually two pets. We

adopted

> > two rats at the local animal rescue league. Rayleigh has wanted rats for a

> > while. She's seen me in pictures with mine. I started keeping rats as pets

> > after I worked with one in a psychology class. I found they are very smart,

> > friendly and social.

> >

> > When we started talking about getting rats Rayleigh searched the animal

rescue

> > league website and found two of them, sisters, who have been together since

> > birth. I won't adopt just one because they really do need each other. We

> > went to visit these rats the next day and because they're at the rescue

league

> > we could really sit and play with them for a while. We spent an hour with

> > them and as the time went on they warmed up to us very well. I pretty much

> > decided we were going to get them but we needed a good cage to keep the dog

> > out. Rayleigh did the research on that as well. She found some current rat

> > owners on youtube by watching videos of pet rats and asked what cages they

> > recommended. 's Cages was recommended several times and I remember

that

> > they were in business when I was buying cages for my own rats. So we

ordered

> > one and then picked up the rats. We borrowed the cage from the rescue

league

> > because they couldn't hold the rats until our cage came.

> >

> > So far this rat adoption thing has been a very positive thing. We're

enjoying

> > our new pets so much and Rayleigh is happier and calmer than I think I've

ever

> > seen her. She can sit in her room and they'll climb all over her and if

they

> > get into mischief (eating carpeting, climbing on the bed) she picks them up

> > and gets them interested in something else. They are already becoming very

> > comfortable in their new home. We are working on training them to respond

to

> > their names by giving them little treats (sunflower kernels or oats) and

> > saying their names at the same time.

> >

> > I have no regrets.

> >

> > Miriam

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

It really is true. I had hoped getting Rayleigh her rats would help her anxiety

but I didn't expect such an immediate and dramatic change. She's happier. It's

easier to get her to go to bed. She needs me less during the night. I'm not

sure if it's done anything for her OCD. I'm tending toward some OCD stuff right

now with checking to make sure her door is closed. Of course this comes from

there being an incident in which our dog killed one of our hamsters. I don't

think he was intending to kill because he was waiting for his toy to get back up

and move again. I think he was kind of sad when it didn't. Anyway, rats might

be smart enough and fast enough to get away but I'm not willing to risk it.

Rayleigh made everyone in the house sign a contract agreeing to keep her door

closed.

Miriam

>

>

>

>  

>  

>    

>

> My son has a dog.  It was meant to be his service dog but the training just

didn't work out.  Long story.  Anyway, the thing is even without this dog

being a service dog he is very therapeutic.  My son always talks to other

people about their pets and tells them about his dog.  He loves animals of all

kinds.  His dog sleeps with him so if he wakes up at night he isn't totally

alone.  If I suggest to that his dog needs attention it can get away

from his computer which is a tough thing to do.  Sometimes will take a

break to pet his dog even if I don't tell him to.

>

> I've realized for a while that pets help but wasn't sure what to do about

getting my daughter one.  My husband suggested another dog but the thought of

training and getting our dog to accept another dog was just too overwhelming.

 My daughter doesn't have asperger syndrome but she is very anxious and has OCD

and can also be quite sad at times.  Medications for anxiety don't work for her

and so far the ones that were supposed to help her OCD have only made her worse.

 She's in play therapy now and that seems to be helping but the best thing for

her has been getting her a pet.  Well actually two pets.  We adopted two rats

at the local animal rescue league.  Rayleigh has wanted rats for a while.

 She's seen me in pictures with mine.  I started keeping rats as pets after I

worked with one in a psychology class.  I found they are very smart, friendly

and social.

>

> When we started talking about getting rats Rayleigh searched the animal rescue

league website and found two of them, sisters, who have been together since

birth.  I won't adopt just one because they really do need each other.  We

went to visit these rats the next day and because they're at the rescue league

we could really sit and play with them for a while.  We spent an hour with them

and as the time went on they warmed up to us very well.  I pretty much decided

we were going to get them but we needed a good cage to keep the dog out.

 Rayleigh did the research on that as well.  She found some current rat owners

on youtube by watching videos of pet rats and asked what cages they recommended.

 's Cages was recommended several times and I remember that they were in

business when I was buying cages for my own rats.  So we ordered one and then

picked up the rats.  We borrowed the cage from the rescue league because they

couldn't hold the rats

> until our cage came.

>

> So far this rat adoption thing has been a very positive thing.  We're

enjoying our new pets so much and Rayleigh is happier and calmer than I think

I've ever seen her.  She can sit in her room and they'll climb all over her and

if they get into mischief (eating carpeting, climbing on the bed) she picks them

up and gets them interested in something else.  They are already becoming very

comfortable in their new home.  We are working on training them to respond to

their names by giving them little treats (sunflower kernels or oats) and saying

their names at the same time.

>

> I have no regrets.

>

> Miriam

>

>  

>    

>

[Guest guest]

My aspie daughter, Avery, loves all animals. We have two labs and she adores them and they adore her right back!!Amy Spikings ( ) therapeutic effects of pets

My son has a dog. It was meant to be his service dog but the training just didn't work out. Long story. Anyway, the thing is even without this dog being a service dog he is very therapeutic. My son always talks to other people about their pets and tells them about his dog. He loves animals of all kinds. His dog sleeps with him so if he wakes up at night he isn't totally alone. If I suggest to that his dog needs attention it can get away from his computer which is a tough thing to do. Sometimes will take a break to pet his dog even if I don't tell him to.I've realized for a while that pets help but wasn't sure what to do about getting my daughter one. My husband suggested another dog but the thought of training and getting our dog to accept another dog was just too overwhelming. My daughter doesn't have asperger syndrome but she is very anxious and has OCD and can also be quite sad at times. Medications for anxiety don't work for her and so far the ones that were supposed to help her OCD have only made her worse. She's in play therapy now and that seems to be helping but the best thing for her has been getting her a pet. Well actually two pets. We adopted two rats at the local animal rescue league. Rayleigh has wanted rats for a while. She's seen me in pictures with mine. I started keeping rats as pets after I worked with one in a psychology class. I found they are very smart, friendly and social.When we started talking about getting rats Rayleigh searched the animal rescue league website and found two of them, sisters, who have been together since birth. I won't adopt just one because they really do need each other. We went to visit these rats the next day and because they're at the rescue league we could really sit and play with them for a while. We spent an hour with them and as the time went on they warmed up to us very well. I pretty much decided we were going to get them but we needed a good cage to keep the dog out. Rayleigh did the research on that as well. She found some current rat owners on youtube by watching videos of pet rats and asked what cages they recommended. 's Cages was recommended several times and I remember that they were in business when I was buying cages for my own rats. So we ordered one and then picked up the rats. We borrowed the cage from the rescue league because they couldn't hold the rats until our cage came.So far this rat adoption thing has been a very positive thing. We're enjoying our new pets so much and Rayleigh is happier and calmer than I think I've ever seen her. She can sit in her room and they'll climb all over her and if they get into mischief (eating carpeting, climbing on the bed) she picks them up and gets them interested in something else. They are already becoming very comfortable in their new home. We are working on training them to respond to their names by giving them little treats (sunflower kernels or oats) and saying their names at the same time.I have no regrets.Miriam

[Guest guest]

Labs are the best!

On 7/6/10 8:28 PM, " Amy Spikings " <amyspikings@...> wrote:

My aspie daughter, Avery, loves all animals. We have two labs and she adores them and they adore her right back!!

Amy Spikings

( ) therapeutic effects of pets

My son has a dog. It was meant to be his service dog but the training just didn't work out. Long story. Anyway, the thing is even without this dog being a service dog he is very therapeutic. My son always talks to other people about their pets and tells them about his dog. He loves animals of all kinds. His dog sleeps with him so if he wakes up at night he isn't totally alone. If I suggest to that his dog needs attention it can get away from his computer which is a tough thing to do. Sometimes will take a break to pet his dog even if I don't tell him to.

I've realized for a while that pets help but wasn't sure what to do about getting my daughter one. My husband suggested another dog but the thought of training and getting our dog to accept another dog was just too overwhelming. My daughter doesn't have asperger syndrome but she is very anxious and has OCD and can also be quite sad at times. Medications for anxiety don't work for her and so far the ones that were supposed to help her OCD have only made her worse. She's in play therapy now and that seems to be helping but the best thing for her has been getting her a pet. Well actually two pets. We adopted two rats at the local animal rescue league. Rayleigh has wanted rats for a while. She's seen me in pictures with mine. I started keeping rats as pets after I worked with one in a psychology class. I found they are very smart, friendly and social.

When we started talking about getting rats Rayleigh searched the animal rescue league website and found two of them, sisters, who have been together since birth. I won't adopt just one because they really do need each other. We went to visit these rats the next day and because they're at the rescue league we could really sit and play with them for a while. We spent an hour with them and as the time went on they warmed up to us very well. I pretty much decided we were going to get them but we needed a good cage to keep the dog out. Rayleigh did the research on that as well. She found some current rat owners on youtube by watching videos of pet rats and asked what cages they recommended. 's Cages was recommended several times and I remember that they were in business when I was buying cages for my own rats. So we ordered one and then picked up the rats. We borrowed the cage from the rescue league because they couldn't hold the rats until our cage came.

So far this rat adoption thing has been a very positive thing. We're enjoying our new pets so much and Rayleigh is happier and calmer than I think I've ever seen her. She can sit in her room and they'll climb all over her and if they get into mischief (eating carpeting, climbing on the bed) she picks them up and gets them interested in something else. They are already becoming very comfortable in their new home. We are working on training them to respond to their names by giving them little treats (sunflower kernels or oats) and saying their names at the same time.

I have no regrets.

Miriam

[Guest guest]

I had a client who went on to become a pet trainer because of her connection with animals.  What a great job!

[Guest guest]

Oddly enough some of our worst dog experiences have been with labs. We have a

neighbor whose dogs are just not well trained. They're extremely hyper, jump,

one is very demanding about food and if you have food in your pocket he can be a

little scary. Not exactly aggressive but unnerving. The other one is like that

about wanting people to throw things for him to catch. My daughter was outside

once sledding down our hill and the dog came out and decided it was time to play

with the sled. She yanked the sled away from my daughter and scared her SO much

she cried about it. These dogs regularly get out of their invisible fence

because the owners leave the collars off so they come and poo in my yard and

scare my kids and drive my dog crazy. He loves playing with these dogs so if

they're over I let my dog out so he doesn't tear up the wall around our doors

and windows but I'd really prefer not to have these dogs terrorizing the kids.

It's a shame because I know with training they could be much better.

Miriam

>

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > My aspie daughter, Avery, loves all animals. We have two labs and she

adores

> > them and they adore her right back!!

> >

> > Amy Spikings

> >

> > ( ) therapeutic effects of pets

> >

> >

> > My son has a dog. It was meant to be his service dog but the training just

> > didn't work out. Long story. Anyway, the thing is even without this dog

being

> > a service dog he is very therapeutic. My son always talks to other people

> > about their pets and tells them about his dog. He loves animals of all

kinds.

> > His dog sleeps with him so if he wakes up at night he isn't totally alone.

If

> > I suggest to that his dog needs attention it can get away from his

> > computer which is a tough thing to do. Sometimes will take a break to

pet

> > his dog even if I don't tell him to.

> >

> > I've realized for a while that pets help but wasn't sure what to do about

> > getting my daughter one. My husband suggested another dog but the thought of

> > training and getting our dog to accept another dog was just too

overwhelming.

> > My daughter doesn't have asperger syndrome but she is very anxious and has

OCD

> > and can also be quite sad at times. Medications for anxiety don't work for

her

> > and so far the ones that were supposed to help her OCD have only made her

> > worse. She's in play therapy now and that seems to be helping but the best

> > thing for her has been getting her a pet. Well actually two pets. We adopted

> > two rats at the local animal rescue league. Rayleigh has wanted rats for a

> > while. She's seen me in pictures with mine. I started keeping rats as pets

> > after I worked with one in a psychology class. I found they are very smart,

> > friendly and social.

> >

> > When we started talking about getting rats Rayleigh searched the animal

rescue

> > league website and found two of them, sisters, who have been together since

> > birth. I won't adopt just one because they really do need each other. We

went

> > to visit these rats the next day and because they're at the rescue league we

> > could really sit and play with them for a while. We spent an hour with them

> > and as the time went on they warmed up to us very well. I pretty much

decided

> > we were going to get them but we needed a good cage to keep the dog out.

> > Rayleigh did the research on that as well. She found some current rat owners

> > on youtube by watching videos of pet rats and asked what cages they

> > recommended. 's Cages was recommended several times and I remember

that

> > they were in business when I was buying cages for my own rats. So we ordered

> > one and then picked up the rats. We borrowed the cage from the rescue league

> > because they couldn't hold the rats until our cage came.

> >

> > So far this rat adoption thing has been a very positive thing. We're

enjoying

> > our new pets so much and Rayleigh is happier and calmer than I think I've

ever

> > seen her. She can sit in her room and they'll climb all over her and if they

> > get into mischief (eating carpeting, climbing on the bed) she picks them up

> > and gets them interested in something else. They are already becoming very

> > comfortable in their new home. We are working on training them to respond to

> > their names by giving them little treats (sunflower kernels or oats) and

> > saying their names at the same time.

> >

> > I have no regrets.

> >

> > Miriam

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Labs are like kids with ADHD.

On 7/7/10 10:07 AM, " mimasdprofile " <callis4773@...> wrote:

Oddly enough some of our worst dog experiences have been with labs. We have a neighbor whose dogs are just not well trained. They're extremely hyper, jump, one is very demanding about food and if you have food in your pocket he can be a little scary. Not exactly aggressive but unnerving. The other one is like that about wanting people to throw things for him to catch. My daughter was outside once sledding down our hill and the dog came out and decided it was time to play with the sled. She yanked the sled away from my daughter and scared her SO much she cried about it. These dogs regularly get out of their invisible fence because the owners leave the collars off so they come and poo in my yard and scare my kids and drive my dog crazy. He loves playing with these dogs so if they're over I let my dog out so he doesn't tear up the wall around our doors and windows but I'd really prefer not to have these dogs terrorizing the kids. It's a shame because I know with training they could be much better.

Miriam

>

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > My aspie daughter, Avery, loves all animals. We have two labs and she adores

> > them and they adore her right back!!

> >

> > Amy Spikings

> >

> > ( ) therapeutic effects of pets

> >

> >

> > My son has a dog. It was meant to be his service dog but the training just

> > didn't work out. Long story. Anyway, the thing is even without this dog being

> > a service dog he is very therapeutic. My son always talks to other people

> > about their pets and tells them about his dog. He loves animals of all kinds.

> > His dog sleeps with him so if he wakes up at night he isn't totally alone. If

> > I suggest to that his dog needs attention it can get away from his

> > computer which is a tough thing to do. Sometimes will take a break to pet

> > his dog even if I don't tell him to.

> >

> > I've realized for a while that pets help but wasn't sure what to do about

> > getting my daughter one. My husband suggested another dog but the thought of

> > training and getting our dog to accept another dog was just too overwhelming.

> > My daughter doesn't have asperger syndrome but she is very anxious and has OCD

> > and can also be quite sad at times. Medications for anxiety don't work for her

> > and so far the ones that were supposed to help her OCD have only made her

> > worse. She's in play therapy now and that seems to be helping but the best

> > thing for her has been getting her a pet. Well actually two pets. We adopted

> > two rats at the local animal rescue league. Rayleigh has wanted rats for a

> > while. She's seen me in pictures with mine. I started keeping rats as pets

> > after I worked with one in a psychology class. I found they are very smart,

> > friendly and social.

> >

> > When we started talking about getting rats Rayleigh searched the animal rescue

> > league website and found two of them, sisters, who have been together since

> > birth. I won't adopt just one because they really do need each other. We went

> > to visit these rats the next day and because they're at the rescue league we

> > could really sit and play with them for a while. We spent an hour with them

> > and as the time went on they warmed up to us very well. I pretty much decided

> > we were going to get them but we needed a good cage to keep the dog out.

> > Rayleigh did the research on that as well. She found some current rat owners

> > on youtube by watching videos of pet rats and asked what cages they

> > recommended. 's Cages was recommended several times and I remember that

> > they were in business when I was buying cages for my own rats. So we ordered

> > one and then picked up the rats. We borrowed the cage from the rescue league

> > because they couldn't hold the rats until our cage came.

> >

> > So far this rat adoption thing has been a very positive thing. We're enjoying

> > our new pets so much and Rayleigh is happier and calmer than I think I've ever

> > seen her. She can sit in her room and they'll climb all over her and if they

> > get into mischief (eating carpeting, climbing on the bed) she picks them up

> > and gets them interested in something else. They are already becoming very

> > comfortable in their new home. We are working on training them to respond to

> > their names by giving them little treats (sunflower kernels or oats) and

> > saying their names at the same time.

> >

> > I have no regrets.

> >

> > Miriam

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Especially labs that don't get enough exercise!

> >> >

> >>> > >

> >>> > >

> >>> > >

> >>> > >

> >>> > >

> >>> > > My aspie daughter, Avery, loves all animals. We have two labs and she

> >>> adores

> >>> > > them and they adore her right back!!

> >>> > >

> >>> > > Amy Spikings

> >>> > >

> >>> > > ( ) therapeutic effects of pets

> >>> > >

> >>> > >

> >>> > > My son has a dog. It was meant to be his service dog but the training

> >>> just

> >>> > > didn't work out. Long story. Anyway, the thing is even without this

dog

> >>> being

> >>> > > a service dog he is very therapeutic. My son always talks to other

> >>> people

> >>> > > about their pets and tells them about his dog. He loves animals of all

> >>> kinds.

> >>> > > His dog sleeps with him so if he wakes up at night he isn't totally

> >>> alone. If

> >>> > > I suggest to that his dog needs attention it can get away

from

> his

> >>> > > computer which is a tough thing to do. Sometimes will take a

break

> >>> to pet

> >>> > > his dog even if I don't tell him to.

> >>> > >

> >>> > > I've realized for a while that pets help but wasn't sure what to do

>>>

> about

> >>> > > getting my daughter one. My husband suggested another dog but the

> >>> thought of

> >>> > > training and getting our dog to accept another dog was just too

> >>> overwhelming.

> >>> > > My daughter doesn't have asperger syndrome but she is very anxious and

> >>> has OCD

> >>> > > and can also be quite sad at times. Medications for anxiety don't work

> >>> for her

> >>> > > and so far the ones that were supposed to help her OCD have only made

> her

> >>> > > worse. She's in play therapy now and that seems to be helping but the

> >>> best

> >>> > > thing for her has been getting her a pet. Well actually two pets. We

> >>> adopted

> >>> > > two rats at the local animal rescue league. Rayleigh has wanted rats

for

> a

> >>> > > while. She's seen me in pictures with mine. I started keeping rats as

> >>> pets

> >>> > > after I worked with one in a psychology class. I found they are very

> >>> smart,

> >>> > > friendly and social.

> >>> > >

> >>> > > When we started talking about getting rats Rayleigh searched the

animal

> >>> rescue

> >>> > > league website and found two of them, sisters, who have been together

> >>> since

> >>> > > birth. I won't adopt just one because they really do need each other.

We

> >>> went

> >>> > > to visit these rats the next day and because they're at the rescue

> >>> league we

> >>> > > could really sit and play with them for a while. We spent an hour with

> >>> them

> >>> > > and as the time went on they warmed up to us very well. I pretty much

> >>> decided

> >>> > > we were going to get them but we needed a good cage to keep the dog

out.

> >>> > > Rayleigh did the research on that as well. She found some current rat

> >>> owners

> >>> > > on youtube by watching videos of pet rats and asked what cages they

> >>> > > recommended. 's Cages was recommended several times and I

remember

> >>> that

> >>> > > they were in business when I was buying cages for my own rats. So we

> >>> ordered

> >>> > > one and then picked up the rats. We borrowed the cage from the rescue

> >>> league

> >>> > > because they couldn't hold the rats until our cage came.

> >>> > >

> >>> > > So far this rat adoption thing has been a very positive thing. We're

> >>> enjoying

> >>> > > our new pets so much and Rayleigh is happier and calmer than I think

> >>> I've ever

> >>> > > seen her. She can sit in her room and they'll climb all over her and

if

> >>> they

> >>> > > get into mischief (eating carpeting, climbing on the bed) she picks

them

> up

> >>> > > and gets them interested in something else. They are already becoming

> >>> very

> >>> > > comfortable in their new home. We are working on training them to

> >>> respond to

> >>> > > their names by giving them little treats (sunflower kernels or oats)

and

> >>> > > saying their names at the same time.

> >>> > >

> >>> > > I have no regrets.

> >>> > >

> >>> > > Miriam

> >>> > >

> >>> > >

> >>> > >

> >>> > >

> >>> > >

> >> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I think I'm going to work with on learning animal training. He needs to

get his dog into agility training or something.

>

> I had a client who went on to become a pet trainer because of her connection

> with animals. What a great job!

>