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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Studies show differently. They are definitely suggested for kids on the spectrum.[/quote]

Link to studies?  I've read plenty that says autistic children benefit from interactions with pets, but that's different from saying autistic children should get a service dog.

When properly implemented with a mature enough, responsible older child (high school/college), I can see benefit.  But it is a LOT to manage.  You cannot expect an 8 year old to be a dog trainer (and even a pre-trained dog needs consistent, persistant retraining on an almost daily basis).  There is a reason why the majority of reputable agencies will not provide a service dog to a young child.  Most elementary/middle school students can barely manage their own life, let alone the life of another living creature 24/7.

http://servicedogcentral.org/content/node/79[/quote]

I'm also involved in raising servings dogs before they go to formal training, and interact with people who have active service dogs quite frequently. I have to agree with this. I'm not suggestion OP not get a service dog, but they are a TON of work. While they are often better behaved and more obedient than normal pet dogs, they also have unique needs (for example, often the organizations ask that you not let them potty when on a walk, can only have certain kinds of toys, must potty on a leash so you can't just open the door and let them out to the yard, restrictions on how many hours they are crated, and so on). And you want to talk about getting attention when you go out in public -- that can be extremely overwhelming, especially if a child on the spectrum is reactive to people invading their personal space. Grocery shopping with a service dog is a whole different experience.

That said, they can be such amazing companions & frankly, tools, for people with special needs. But do not underestimate the work & commitment they are. They help with many issues, but they often bring along a whole different set. I've seen a number of people get service dogs thinking it will be easy because they've had a dog before and this surely will be the best behaved dog ever, right? Well, yes, they generally are well behaved, but they're still dogs and the service component of it is a totally different thing than people expect.

Good luck OP! I hope it is a positive, life-changing experience for you! I think realistic expectations are one of the keys to success, so hopefully the above doesn't scare you, just confirms what you've already learned. [/quote]

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