Re: Hey guys - a quick question about pets...

[Guest guest]

My son (12 with AS) has two guinea pigs. They are both boars and are called

Sprinkles and Peppercorn. He absolutely loves them. They do require some work,

but I wouldn't think as much as a dog. He is learning responsiblity, with

having to feed them gp food, hay, and water each day and sweep out the poop

every day (we have what is called a C and C cage with a fleece bottom, which is

recommended for gp's, so they have more space).

I would recommend getting from a breeder or a rescue, as the pet store piggies

are under a lot of stress.

If you want more info and links to good websites on piggies, email me off list.

Leah

[Guest guest]

You're right about hermit crabs - they're not very interactive pets. My son had

a few. It did teach him how to care for a very low maintenance pet but he lost

interest after the newness wore off.

Check out local shelters and dog rescues in your area. They will be able to help

match a dog to your family and your home. Animal planet has the show Dogs 101 to

introduce you to different types of breeds. A good old fashioned mutt may work

for you. Try to find a shelter that will let you visit the dog a few times so

you can determine if the dog is right for you. I agree that an adult dog is the

way to go if you want to avoid the jumping phase - just make sure that the dog

was trained not to jump.

Caroline

>

> I think my son would beenfit from having a pet but I have no idea what kind to

choose. He was interested in a hermit crab but their not the most pla will have

to be an adultyful pet. lol We visited with some cats and he didn't seem too

interested in them, so I think a dog would be more beneficial, but not really

sure what kind. I know it would have to be an adult dog due to his disliking

dogs jumping all over him and whatnot. Anyone have any experience like this or

have any suggestions? We have no allergies or anything. Thanks!

>

[Guest guest]

Hi! We have cats & a dog. My son (AS) has bonded with all of the animals but he seems to be more of a "cat person". Dogs seem to need more attention and are quite a bit more work than cats but our dog can also go outside and play with him where the cats don't. Pros & cons to both but he has really turned into an animal lover. They provide uncondtional love and are always there for him (particularly beneficial when he's had a rough day at school and peers have been difficult)

From: sammiam832 <sammiam832@...>Subject: ( ) Hey guys - a quick question about pets... Date: Monday, January 17, 2011, 6:26 PM

I think my son would beenfit from having a pet but I have no idea what kind to choose. He was interested in a hermit crab but their not the most pla will have to be an adultyful pet. lol We visited with some cats and he didn't seem too interested in them, so I think a dog would be more beneficial, but not really sure what kind. I know it would have to be an adult dog due to his disliking dogs jumping all over him and whatnot. Anyone have any experience like this or have any suggestions? We have no allergies or anything. Thanks!

[Guest guest]

We've had all kinds of pets.............we take them in, as well, for people, and honestly, the best pet for a kid, in my opinion, is a guinea pig. They love to be held, don't bite or run, you can set them out on a floor and play with them, they make adoreable sounds, and you can leave them for days as long as you leave them enough food and water!!

Yes, there's a cage. So....you clean the paper every other day. We used to put bedding because they like to jump around in it, but plenty use paper. Just be sure to give them a house to go and hide in.

The food is cheap and they love dandelion leaves/flowers in the summer! Even carrots or lettuce and apples. So......it's simple for you kids to take care of them AND feed them snacks!!!

Good luck!!

Robin

"Normal is just

a cycle

on a washing machine....."

From: sammiam832 <sammiam832@...>Subject: ( ) Hey guys - a quick question about pets... Date: Monday, January 17, 2011, 6:26 PM

I think my son would beenfit from having a pet but I have no idea what kind to choose. He was interested in a hermit crab but their not the most pla will have to be an adultyful pet. lol We visited with some cats and he didn't seem too interested in them, so I think a dog would be more beneficial, but not really sure what kind. I know it would have to be an adult dog due to his disliking dogs jumping all over him and whatnot. Anyone have any experience like this or have any suggestions? We have no allergies or anything. Thanks!

[Guest guest]

My daughter was given a chihuahua puppy for her birthday and my son (14 with an Aspergers diagnosis) has fallen in love! We socialized her with lots of kids and other dogs from the day we got her and now she's a social butterfly. Dylan plays with her the most out of anyone in our family. I put the puppy in bed with him when he wakes up and it helps him start the day off in a good way. I think the puppy licking him is probably good for sensory reasons, plus, he knows it's a sign of affection and he loves that she loves him! I think it's an easy, satisfying relationship for him. He was resistant to getting a dog - he wanted a cat because he's a cat person - be now, he's very happy that we have Peanut. If you get a chihuahua, it's super important to socialize them early and often so they are friendly. If not, it might not be as much fun.Sent via BlackBerry by AT&TFrom: and/or Robin Lemke <jrisjs@...>Sender: Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 07:41:57 -0800 (PST)< >Reply Subject: Re: ( ) Hey guys - a quick question about pets... We've had all kinds of pets.............we take them in, as well, for people, and honestly, the best pet for a kid, in my opinion, is a guinea pig. They love to be held, don't bite or run, you can set them out on a floor and play with them, they make adoreable sounds, and you can leave them for days as long as you leave them enough food and water!!Yes, there's a cage. So....you clean the paper every other day. We used to put bedding because they like to jump around in it, but plenty use paper. Just be sure to give them a house to go and hide in. The food is cheap and they love dandelion leaves/flowers in the summer! Even carrots or lettuce and apples. So......it's simple for you kids to take care of them AND feed them snacks!!! Good luck!!Robin "Normal is just a cycleon a washing machine....."From: sammiam832 <sammiam832@...>Subject: ( ) Hey guys - a quick question about pets... Date: Monday, January 17, 2011, 6:26 PM I think my son would beenfit from having a pet but I have no idea what kind to choose. He was interested in a hermit crab but their not the most pla will have to be an adultyful pet. lol We visited with some cats and he didn't seem too interested in them, so I think a dog would be more beneficial, but not really sure what kind. I know it would have to be an adult dog due to his disliking dogs jumping all over him and whatnot. Anyone have any experience like this or have any suggestions? We have no allergies or anything. Thanks!

[Guest guest]

hi- my son loves cats, unfortunately my husband is allergic, but our neighbor has one. Also my psychologist said, yes, cats are good for AS kids. best regards,

Cathleen

From: sammiam832 <sammiam832@...> Sent: Mon, January 17, 2011 4:26:31 PMSubject: ( ) Hey guys - a quick question about pets...

I think my son would beenfit from having a pet but I have no idea what kind to choose. He was interested in a hermit crab but their not the most pla will have to be an adultyful pet. lol We visited with some cats and he didn't seem too interested in them, so I think a dog would be more beneficial, but not really sure what kind. I know it would have to be an adult dog due to his disliking dogs jumping all over him and whatnot. Anyone have any experience like this or have any suggestions? We have no allergies or anything. Thanks!

[Guest guest]

It's probably not the KIND of dog that you're going to look at as much as the dog itself. Just like people, all dogs are different and have different personalities. We looked for well over a year to find the perfect dog for us. She ended up being a really sweet Stafforshire/Pitbull mix (yeah, believe that, a Pitbull). But, our son loves her and she puts up with him when he's too rough. He's really the only one in the house that she will sit and lick and lick and lick. He loves that! So, anyway, we just went to visit lots of dogs at several Humane Society places and finally found the right one for us. Good luck!!

Beth

( ) Hey guys - a quick question about pets...

I think my son would beenfit from having a pet but I have no idea what kind to choose. He was interested in a hermit crab but their not the most pla will have to be an adultyful pet. lol We visited with some cats and he didn't seem too interested in them, so I think a dog would be more beneficial, but not really sure what kind. I know it would have to be an adult dog due to his disliking dogs jumping all over him and whatnot. Anyone have any experience like this or have any suggestions? We have no allergies or anything. Thanks!

[Guest guest]

Hello Re Pets and make great pets for AS. I got my partner Math an english bull terrier, and i have really seen great improvements in him. Taking the time and responsability of our dog, getting out more ( from being secluded) and improving his socialistion skills by initiating conversations with other dog walkers in the park. Thats our experience hope it helps Cris and Math Hunt-Law

[Guest guest]

Hi,

In my experience Labradors are a good breed if you do choose a dog. I took my AS

son to see a litter of Lab puppies just to see how he would react to them(they

are quite boisterous as pups) and we came home with Sam who has now been my

son's best friend for 5 years. They do everything together and has taught my son

so much. All Dogs need alot of attention and need to be exercised alot so they

don't develop behavioural problems (sounds like my son LOL!) but they are very

rewarding and become a real member of the family. Personally I would recommend

getting a puppy, some adult dogs come with problems that are just too hard to

get rid of. Just my humble opinion...

Good luck :-)

Becky

>

[Guest guest]

We did the hermit crab thing and it lived for a year...but provided little

positive energy. I don't recommend them...there's work involved in keeping a

hermit crab healthy but no positive reward in my opinion. I recommend a dog that

has a calm personality...no terriers for instance. We got a corgi when our AS

son began Kindergarten and it has been a huge plus for our AS son...probably

more than we will ever understand. That was almost 12 years ago and the dog is

still alive. For us, our dog provided:

1. a way to teach responsibility in terms of a chore (feeding once a day)

2. empathy (how does the dog feel when we forget to let her in from outside .

what does the dog want when she rolls over on her back - that kind of thing that

happens all the time)

3. Teachable moments related to theory of the mind as it relates to a pet (if

you do x, what will the dog likely do ... which are more concrete and

predictable than human response but a teachable moment none the less)

4. Been a friend when there haven't been many

5. A quiet comfort when he has been upset, particularly in younger years

6. Provided light moments and distractions

7. Provided us something to talk about that is neutral

8. A soothing presence for us as parents too

Good luck in your search.

>

> I think my son would beenfit from having a pet but I have no idea what kind to

choose. He was interested in a hermit crab but their not the most pla will have

to be an adultyful pet. lol We visited with some cats and he didn't seem too

interested in them, so I think a dog would be more beneficial, but not really

sure what kind. I know it would have to be an adult dog due to his disliking

dogs jumping all over him and whatnot. Anyone have any experience like this or

have any suggestions? We have no allergies or anything. Thanks!

>

[Guest guest]

wow, talk about a large array of answers. lol I kind of expected it but wanted

an idea of what other kinds of pets you all had or had experienced. I

appreciate all the answers. It may take some trips to the rescue places. My

son is HFA with Sensory Integration Disorder and Anxiety, so he can't handle the

sounds of the humane societies. We will figure it out. Gives me a lot to think

about though. Thanks everyone.

>

> It's probably not the KIND of dog that you're going to look at as much as

the dog itself. Just like people, all dogs are different and have different

personalities. We looked for well over a year to find the perfect dog for us.

She ended up being a really sweet Stafforshire/Pitbull mix (yeah, believe that,

a Pitbull). But, our son loves her and she puts up with him when he's too

rough. He's really the only one in the house that she will sit and lick and

lick and lick. He loves that! So, anyway, we just went to visit lots of dogs

at several Humane Society places and finally found the right one for us. Good

luck!!

>

> Beth

>

> ( ) Hey guys - a quick question about pets...

>

>

>

> I think my son would beenfit from having a pet but I have no idea what kind

to choose. He was interested in a hermit crab but their not the most pla will

have to be an adultyful pet. lol We visited with some cats and he didn't seem

too interested in them, so I think a dog would be more beneficial, but not

really sure what kind. I know it would have to be an adult dog due to his

disliking dogs jumping all over him and whatnot. Anyone have any experience like

this or have any suggestions? We have no allergies or anything. Thanks!

>