Pet Support & Autism

I recently lost a family dog, Toto, a Shih Tzu. He was a friendly and gentle dog who grew up with us since he was a puppy. We always had children in the household and he loved them! He wouldn’t mind when my niece pulls his tail, grabs his front paws or holds up both front legs and instructs him to “Walk! Walk!”. Sometimes Toto will reciprocate the play too by running and chasing my niece gently.

When I was working as a therapist, Toto tagged along to a few therapy sessions with me. I thought I’d get Toto to join us during play times as Kenny (nickname) loves animals and Toto is a gentle dog. With Kenny’s mom’s consent, I prepared Kenny to meet Toto. Kenny got really excited when he finally saw Toto! Kenny spontaneously used a lot of verbal requests in efforts to play with Toto, asking me to open the gate, put on the leash, etc.

Like many other kids, Kenny didn't really know the 'right' way to play with Toto, but Toto was compliant as usual, and went along with the play. Kenny spontaneously told Toto to “Walk! Walk! Toto, walk!”, and sometimes “Run!”, too. Of course, there was a lot of follow up to do as “playing with pets” needed to be added into the therapy afterwards. But it was really nice to see how motivated Kenny was in trying to play with and communicate with Toto. It was also nice to see the attention and love that Kenny gave Toto within that short 15 minutes of play.

So when I heard about pet therapy and how pet dogs can help people with autism, I wasn’t skeptical about it at all. As a dog owner I experienced first-hand the bond that you can have with a pet dog and that they can be the best companion to have. Having a pet of such nature makes it easy for a person with autism to build a strong bond with the pet. Once a good rapport is established, more social skills can be developed from there.

Of course having a pet dog as an addition to the family can be stressful if not managed properly. There are many things to consider before getting a pet: Are any of your family members allergic to pets? Does your household have enough capacity? Is there any animal-related fear that your child might have? Most importantly, are you ready for another addition to the family?

This write up might sound more like a pet care article but I would like to emphasize on the fact that as parents, caretakers, and teachers of children with autism, it doesn’t hurt to try new methods that claim to be able to help our kids learn and progress. Just remember to consider the suitability and the safety of the therapy to your child. Every child is different and so it is important to do what works for your child. 

Written by 

Lee Yu Ying

Consultant, EAP Malaysia