Dogs have been helpmates to people for thousands of years. They have aided us with hunting, farming, herding, traveling, and defense. More recently, dogs have been trained to assist the blind, deaf, immobile, and those with seizure disorders. Now, dogs are expanding into the work of helping people who struggle with emotional problems, post-traumatic stress disorder, and autism.

What is Autism?

Autism and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are brain development conditions in humans that impair the ability to communicate and interact socially with other people. They also cause varying degrees of repetitive behaviors.

The biggest signs of autism tend to appear around two to three years of age. Currently, around 1 in 68 children is diagnosed as being affected by some degree of ASD or autism. These conditions affect over three million people in the US. Several organizations currently train dogs to be used as service animals for people with autism. The results can be life-changing for some families. What specific things can an autism service dog help with? Autism service dogs are adding to the long tradition of dogs helping and serving humans. As our needs have evolved, their responses have evolved as well. It is an amazing tribute to the devotion that our canine friends have for us. Find out more at http://4pawsforability.org/autism-assistance-dog/ and https://www.autismspeaks.org/services/service-dogs.
[null, {"document_url": "https://www.doghealth.com/care/dogs-and-their-people/2216-autism-service-dogs?tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default", "unformatted_src": "/images/autism_service_dogs_dog_health.jpg", "src": "https://www.doghealth.com/images/autism_service_dogs_dog_health.jpg", "formatted_filename": "autism service dogs dog health", "alt_text": "Autistic children can be helped by service dogs.", "rendered_width": 480, "rendered_height": 335}, null, null, null, null]