Dogs That Are Good With Children With Autism

A dog can make an excellent companion for a child who struggles with an autism disorder. According to Medical News Today, dogs can help to reduce anxiety and improve behavior and social skills in autistic children. When choosing a suitable companion dog it is important to ensure that the dog has a calm, submissive temperament and will be easy to train. There are a number of dog breeds that have a reputation for exuding these qualities. Guard dogs and dogs that like to chase are generally not suitable as companions for autistic children.

  1. Labrador Retriever

    • The Labrador retriever is recommended by the American Kennel Club as a gentle, family-friendly dog. This breed is often used as seeing eye dogs for the blind and therapy dogs for adults and children with a range of disabilities and disorders including autism. The Labrador makes a suitable therapy dog because it is eager to please and easily trainable.

    Golden Retriever

    • According to the American Kennel Club the golden retriever makes an ideal therapy or assistance dog due to its easy-to-please attitude and calm, friendly temperament. This breed makes an excellent family dog as it is gentle with children and it is also a suitable dog for inexperienced dog owners.

    Cocker Spaniel

    • The cocker spaniel is a smaller breed that is often calm and well balanced. According to Doggies Paradise, the cocker spaniel is a good choice of breed for children and is also a good breed for first-time dog owners as the pets are friendly and easy to train. There are two varieties of cocker spaniel, the English cocker and the American cocker. These are both active dogs and require long walking on a daily basis.

    Saint Bernard

    • The Saint Bernard is a large yet gentle breed that DoggiesParadise.com describes as a dog that is trustworthy around children and is often referred to as a babysitter. The breed is also used as a therapy dog. Due to it's large size the Saint Bernard requires early training, daily exercise and more space than smaller breeds.