Autism Assistance Dogs
Smart Pups Autism Assistance dogs can enhance quality of life for children with autism
Children with autism feel safer, calmer and more understood through their bond with a Smart Pup Assistance Dog. These trusty canine companions can increase an autistic child’s ability to cope with life, ease sensory overload and provide emotional support. A Smart Pup acts as a bridge between each child and the outside world; guiding children through their daily routine, keeping them safe and comforting them when the world just gets too much.
Tracking
Smart Pups are trained to quickly find their child using their sense of smell. In an emergency situation where the child has run away or wandered off, this skill can be life saving.
Behaviour Disruption
Smart Pups are trained to touch or nudge their child to disrupt repetitive or destructive behaviours. These Autism Assistance Dogs are also trained to snuggle and comfort their child if they become upset or distressed, which helps prevent the child’s emotional reaction from escalating into a meltdown.
Positive Social Interactions
Smart Pups can perform a variety of simple tricks, which increase the bond with their child and create fun during social interactions. Smart Pups give children a reason to communicate, and something familiar to talk about – their special dog, which boosts their confidence in engaging with others. Improved interaction often increases a child’s vocabulary and decreases their anxiety in social situations, and creates a social bridge for children who are unsure how to interact with their peers
Calming Presence
Medical studies and our professional experience confirm that children with a companion dog feel less pressure from their surroundings and have lower frustration and anxiety levels. This greatly improves children’s sleeping habits which leaders to better quality of life for their whole family.
