Many people see me out and about with my service dog, Thomas, throughout the week, and sometimes parents will inquire about the dog and discuss interest in obtaining a service dog for their child or young adult with autism. Being matched with a service dog was one of the best decisions my parents and I ever made, however, it was one of those which also required the most hard work, discipline, time, and commitment.
We made the decision to apply for a successor service dog after my first service dog, Lucy, retired in 2020 at age 11. There was a lot that went into the discussion of whether I was ready to handle a service dog when this whole journey began 11 years or so ago. As a family, we had to consider whether we could financially support a dog, including in an emergency. I had to find a living environment that would provide a comfortable quality living space for both me and a large-breed dog, consider whether I would be comfortable taking on not just a companion role, but a leadership role to the dog, and whether I would be willing to enforce boundaries and rules, including redirecting unwanted behavior in public settings. I had to learn to review skills and behaviors with the dog 2 to 3 times a day for 10 minutes just to keep him up to date and ready for action. I also had to learn to groom the dog (brush out coat, brush teeth, clean ears with antibacterial wipes) at least once a week, as well as fulfilling his needs for high quality food at meals and plenty of exercise and play to help keep him fit.
I think many people may encounter a service dog in public and notice that they are able to lie quietly at the side of a table in a restaurant or heel calmly trough the aisles of a store next to the handler without pulling at the leash, interacting with other shoppers, or excessively sniffing merchandise, and they might think that once the dog graduates his or her training program, there is not much more that needs to be done. Service dogs are just “naturally programmed” to behave well.
There is a lot going on behind the scenes to make sure the dog is on top of his or her game. There is always something to be done or something to work on with the dog which is what I love about the process, in addition to public outings and adventures, of course! I love having someone who depends on me to help them do their job the best they can, and I love seeing him work through challenging situations and figure things out. Anything I do with the dog; I am almost always having a good time. My day is scheduled around taking care of the dog, such as: it’s potty time now, then time for breakfast, then grooming, then play time, etc.
Here are some questions to consider before applying for a service dog for your child or loved one with autism or developmental disability:
- What is the individual’s chronological age vs. developmental age? Often, the higher the better. Individuals with higher cognition and higher social awareness can often participate more actively in the care and handling of the dog.
- How can you see a service dog enhancing the individual’s life?
- Can you see the individual independently handling the dog both in the home and in a public setting, such as a store or restaurant? This includes redirecting unwanted behavior or keeping both themselves and the dog safe in a potentially stressful or dangerous situation.
- If no to the above question, is there a responsible, attentive adult in the home who would be willing to assist with the daily care and handling of the dog?
- What is the individual’s level of independence?
- What is his or her activity level day to day?
- What are some places the individual likes to go? Where can you see the dog going with the individual?
- Are there other dogs in the home?
Nassim, A. (2023). A Few Things to Consider Before Applying for an Autism Service Dog. https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca/articles/considerations-for-autism-service-dog.html