Individuals with ASD often have a challenging time controlling their emotions and behaving according to social norms. A study by Levinson (1965) and Pet Partners (2015) discovered that dogs are perfect companions, as they positively affect individuals who struggle with social, emotional, physical, or cognitive acumen. What about the difficulty of managing daily complex situations? Therapy dogs support social, emotional and behavioral development and even enhance life experiences.
As with any intervention intended to support development, one size does not fit all. However, studies have shown that therapy dogs support holistic development, i.e., the preparation to meet life’s challenges.
Social/Emotional
An ASD diagnosis often renders the individual unable to deduce the consequences of their own actions and can result in a plethora of issues that will inevitably affect their personal and academic futures. In addition it is difficult to manage one’s own emotions as well as to acknowledge and understand the emotions and feelings of others. One of the most fulfilling benefits of a therapy dog is its ability to bond quickly with the individual, forming a friendship and filling voids of loneliness. Dogs do not judge, they love unconditionally, and provide non-threatening companionship, which is necessary for individuals who may find it difficult to make and keep friends, lack social aptitude, or need help releasing energy and anxieties.
Therapy dogs provide motivation for individuals to engage with others while acting as a conversation starter for social interactions. They provide them with confidence to involve themselves in a game or spend time with others. Nimer and Lundahl’s (2007) study suggests that an animal’s presence prompts disengaged individuals to openly communicate. As a boy worked to fit in with his typically developing peers during a revised game of soccer, the therapy dog provided him both moral support and voiceless encouragement to participate in class with confidence. Simultaneously, the therapy animal served as the focal point of conversation between the boy and his peers. These dogs silently support their companion while increasing their self-esteem and self-worth.
Responsibility
A therapy dog requires loving care and maintenance. This can promote positive feelings of love and nurture from the individual while fostering responsibility. Many individuals enjoy learning to care for their dogs by feeding, walking and brushing them. As they embrace these responsibilities they are in turn rewarded with feelings of pride in their efforts and learn important life skills. Experiences with a therapy dog have led to deep and meaningful bonds that help individuals understand emotions such as love, friendship, and the stages of life.
Behavior reduction
Therapy dogs can help reduce stereotypy in behaviors. They have a calming effect on individuals with autism, working as a preventative strategy against behavioral and mental meltdowns. Dogs can be trained to recognize repetitive behaviors which trigger them to respond, i.e., placing their paw on the individual or nudging them to disrupt or distract. Dogs make great companions especially in times of uncertainty and fear as they provide tranquility and calm through their loyal affection. If parents notice that their child is getting upset or is crying they can command the dog to engage in a comforting interaction. Therapy dogs are taught to lean and lie over children, applying deep pressure to sooth anxieties. They also snuggle them and provide kisses for added comfort. Often the duration of a meltdown decreases due to this intervention or prevents it altogether. Parents have reported that their children sleep better at night due to the presence and comfort of the therapy dog.
Safety
A therapy dog can also help with safety. Individuals with autism rarely understand the potential dangers within their environment and elopement is common. Additionally, these individuals often do not respond when their name is called. Therapy dogs can be trained to learn the scent of specific people and are trained in search and rescue. This allows the dog to bring the parent or caretaker to their child in the event that they run away while at home or in the community. A tethering method can also be utilized. This prevents a child from sprinting away by using a tether or a leash attached to the harness of the dog. The parent or caregiver is always in control of the therapy dog while holding on to the primary leash. This is a preventative measure a trained dog can assist with.
Therapy dogs use their social instincts and learned social skills to bring people emotional benefits and sensory interventions.
References
Levinson, B. (1965). Pet psychotherapy: Use of household pets in the treatment of behavior
disorder in childhood. Psychological Reports, 17, 695-698.
Nimer, J., & Lundahl, B. (2007).Animal-assisted therapy: A meta-analysis.
Anthrozoos, 20, 225-238.
Pet Partners. (2015). Benefits of the human-animal bond. Retrieved from
https://petpartners.org/learn/benefits-human-animal-bond/
Roberts-Schneider, Michelle. (2016). How Educators Use Dogs to Support Children’s Social,
Emotional, and Behavioral Development. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.