Pet dogs can reduce stress in families of children with ASD

As someone who is associated with the pet services industry (I work part-time in my wife's dog grooming shop when I am not teaching) I see hundreds of dogs in a month.  Many I would immediately recommend to a family who has a child with ASD in the household.  In fact, some of our dogs do live in this type of environment as pets and are a marvelous testament to the benefits documented in the article.  

However, saying that a dog in the home "improves functioning in families" without providing more specifics could lead many families to make a poorly informed decision that leads to a more difficult situation with the wrong dog.  I see many dogs whose temperaments are not at all suitable for such an environment.  The sad part is that many families have pets that are very poorly matched and as a result are under greater stress, not less.  We try to advise them on behavioral issues as we are able but the problem remains that a mistake was made at the outset and now they are spending a lot of energy managing a less than ideal situation.

As opposed to assistance dogs who are expected to provide trained support or have a therapeutic responsibility pets have no such expectations.  However, the article suggests that their mere presence can be therapeutic in and of itself.  I have absolutely no quarrel with this having seen the therapeutic connection between dog and human on many occasions, including in my own life.  But all it takes is one episode of Cesar 911 to demonstrate how carefully this relationship must be established.

I am not an expert in autism but through personal experience with family and friends I am aware of many of the hurdles inherent in raising and living with children who have special needs.  I would like to offer the following as a way of augmenting what is missing from the article.  I hope it helps:

The family should decide ahead of time who should be involved in choosing the dog, how much the child should be involved, and at what stage of the selection process.  One option is to pre-select several dogs/puppies that seem to be best suited in temperament, breed, size, maintenance needs, activity level, and age to the family's needs.  Observe the dogs under different situations if possible to check for empathy, obedience, fear, and excitement/barking problems.  Once several dogs have been selected, arrange to have them come together with the child for a final choice.  Likely, this is best be done in a neutral environment without distractions as opposed to a shelter or at the home, whatever seems best for the child.

Do your homework.  If in doubt do not hesitate to consult a dog behavior/training professional for help.  This is a lifelong commitment and avoiding missteps will prevent disappointment.  Making the best possible selection may require the help of an objective professional and is well worth it.  Don't believe the hype about certain breeds, i.e. doodles are hypoallergenic (they're not), that poodles don't shed (I have three, they all shed), that certain breeds are more or less intelligent (this may have some basis in fact but just like humans, it's an individual trait), etc.  

Above, I mentioned temperament.  The dog's personality is critical for a good match.  There are various temperament testing procedures used in the industry for determining a rock-solid, stable personality.  Sources for the best dogs vary.  Shelter dogs can be great pets but many can come with their own baggage and unknown provenance, i.e. you don't know what they've been through themselves.  Dogs from reputable breeders span the range of socialization based on how much human interaction they give their puppies but the breeder's experience in matching families to suitable dogs may be better.  Most reputable breeders and shelters have a return policy if it is not a good match but good preparation will hopefully avoid this potentially distressing situation for the child.  

Also important is initial and ongoing cost.  You must remember that you are purchasing a life, for life, and a healthy dog is critical to stable behavior.  If finances are a consideration it is important to remember that there will be ongoing medical and maintenance costs.  Some breeds and types of dogs are far more susceptible to medical issues than others developing problems with cancers, organ and musculo-skeletal disabilities, eyes and ears, teeth, and breathing problems that go above and beyond normal healthy dog issues and providing the care they require on a regular basis.  Spaying/neutering should be an absolute as it can stabilize the pet's behavior and eliminates surprises.  Life span should also be considered.  Very large or giant breeds generally have much shorter lives than small or medium breeds.  Consulting with a vet or animal care professional would be wise.  I can imagine that losing a pet after only a few years could be especially distressing for some children.

Grooming is also a cost and convenience factor.  Many people visit our grooming shop with a new goldendoodle puppy (because, you know, they are irresistably cute) not knowing how hard the hair is to groom, how quickly it mats, and how expensive grooming will be (plan to spend at least $100 every four to six weeks for grooming all that real estate).  Short hair dogs (beagles, retrievers, weimaraners, german shepherd dogs, etc.)  can be washed in the bathtub but may not have the softer, fuller coat that may be especially comforting for someone acutely sensitive to tactile sensation.  In the middle are what are called double-coated dogs, fluffy undercoat with a smoother top layer ("rough" collies, golden retrievers, australian shepherds, and others).  Note that double coated dogs should never, ever be shaved with clippers as it will ruin their coats.  Generally these dogs merely need to be bathed from time to time, brushed, and de-shed to remove excess undercoat and so are fairly inexpensive to maintain.  Dogs with long or fluffy hair may also be good choices (poodles-miniature or standard, bichons, shih-tzus, maltese, tibetan terrier, cavalier king charles spaniels, or mixes of these breeds).  These dogs continue to grow their hair constantly just like humans so it will need regular grooming and attention and the cost will vary depending on the size of the dog, the coat, and frequency.

Combine size with temperament and you get controllability.  Will the child be expected to control the dog?  If so, a small to medium size dog may be a better choice.  Medium to larger dogs who are impulsive and likely to pull are going to be a problem.  Perhaps an adult dog is a better choice than an energetic puppy in need of a lot of attention.  In all cases, obedience classes for both dog and family are highly advisable.  

While the article specifically distinguishes between pets and trained service dogs, pets with no specialized training can still be identified as Emotional Support Dogs for personal companionship as defined by the ADA giving them access to many, if not all the places that their humans go and live.  More information on this program is available online.  This can add a dimension of comfort for children when away from home.

Although I hesitate to recommend or discourage certain breeds I would have to say that the best dogs that I have run into for families looking for a pet for their child are the ones I listed as examples in the grooming section.  Of course, mixed breeds make wonderful pets, as well, and often have more stable health and temperament than pure breeds.  

What to avoid?  Above all, stay away from fads.  Don't pick a breed because it was featured in a movie or a celebrity owns one.  Too many dalmatians and chihuahuas have wound up in bad situations with families who were unprepared for their unique needs.  Also, don't support puppy mills where the living conditions for dogs and puppies is highly traumatic and abusive.  Finally, while dogs in a certain breed can share personality traits and common characteristics, the best choice comes from carefully choosing the individual dog.  Some of my favorite dogs at the grooming shop are the ones from the most maligned breeds.  Just goes to show you can't judge a dog, or a person, by outward appearances.  It's all about establishing a safe and secure connection between the hearts of two unique beings who will mutually benefit from loving one another unconditionally.  

I hope this has been helpful.  I've tried to be as unbiased as possible and I hope others will add to the knowledge here with their own experiences and recommendations.