Jonathan and his mom are now able to walk to the park thanks to their autism assistance dog Boo. Photo by Katie Monahan

Working Dogs: Calming Canines

Autistic Children Overcome Obstacles with the Help of their Canine Friends

By Tamra Monahan

For autistic children, the world is a frightening place. The rush of traffic, the noise of conversations, the joyful screams of excited children, and the chaos of everyday life can be overwhelming. Their brains can't handle the sensory overload most people take for granted, and when autistic children feel overwhelmed, they react. Some retreat from the world by hiding, some scream, and some have outbursts that are difficult for parents to control.

Autism assistance dogs help these children cope with their world. According to Karen Shirk, Executive Director of 4 Paws for Ability, the dogs are trained to perform behavior disruption. If a child is having a meltdown with uncontrollable screaming and crying, or he is performing repetitive obsessive behaviors, the parent can tell the dog to snuggle, nudge, touch, or lie down with the child. These soothing gestures act as a distraction to take the child's attention away from the unwelcome behavior.

Denise Standley understands how a dog's loving touch can have a profound effect on a child struggling with autism. Nitro, a Golden Retriever, is an assistance dog who helps Denise's autistic son DJ both at home and at school. When DJ has a meltdown, Nitro stays by his side until the tantrum subsides. During one such episode, Denise could not get DJ to calm down, so she sent him to his room with Nitro. When she went up to check on him, she was pleasantly surprised by what she found. Even though he was still yelling, DJ was gently petting Nitro, and the longer he sat with the dog, the calmer he became. As she watched the two of them, she could almost see the anger leave DJ's body.

"Nitro has changed DJ's life in so many ways," Denise says. "The biggest change is that he is so much happier and more outgoing. Nitro has also been a blessing for our family because he's another resource to help us deal with the autistic part of DJ, and now I'm not the only source of comfort that DJ has." Jonathan Schriever used to hide from the world. He hated the chaos and noise of shopping centers. A visit to the doctor's office was so frightening he would lie down in the parking lot and refuse to get up. His family was reluctant to go on vacation or to an amusement park or even a playground, because he might run away or have a meltdown in public. But this lucky seven-year-old found Boo, and his life changed forever.

Boo is a beautiful black Labradoodle - Jonathan's guide, companion, and best friend. As an autism assistance dog trained by Colorado Service Dogs, Boo's job is to help Jonathan deal with the stress and anxiety of everyday life, as well as keep him safe. Since Boo came along, Jonathan and his family have gained the freedom and peace of mind they desperately needed.

"With Boo around, Jonathan is excited because he gets to do things, and we're excited because we get to do things," says Jonathan's mom Carrie. "We're not housebound anymore. It was hard to go anywhere or do anything, but now with Boo, it means we get to have a life again."

Prior to having an autism assistance dog, Jonathan was confined to an adaptive stroller whenever the Schrievers went out. Often, he would hide in his stroller, under the canopy, with a blanket in front of him to keep the outside world from getting in. Carrie realized it wasn't good for her son to live in a bubble and expect the world to pass him by. He had to learn to cope with the stimulus around him, and he was getting too large for the stroller.

Jonathan's parents had a problem, and Boo was the solution. This gentle dog taught her boy that the world doesn't have to be a scary place. With Boo's help and calming influence, the seven-year-old came out of his bubble, instead of hiding from the world. The family can now shop at the mall, go to the grocery store, and take a vacation without having to deal with Jonathan's fears and reluctance.

"The change in our lives since we got Boo has been incredible," Carrie says. "She's helped Jonathan so much, and it's wonderful to see him doing things other kids do." Safety is a key issue for parents of autistic children because they have little or no concept of danger. They can run out into a busy street, wander off in stores and shopping malls, or open an unlocked door and leave the house. Keeping track of an autistic child 24 hours a day takes a toll on parents and families, and for many, their salvation comes with four legs and a wagging tail.

Autism assistance dogs are trained to protect their kids. At home, many dogs keep a watchful eye on the autistic child, alerting the family if he is going into an area that is off-limits. In public, the child is tethered to the dog, who is leashed to the parents. If the child tries to run or wander off, the dog is trained to stop, sit, or lie down, thus becoming an anchor.

Sometimes an innate sense of danger and fierce loyalty will cause a dog to act on his own to save a child's life. Such was the case for Jonathan and his loveable Labradoodle. Shortly after getting Boo, Carrie tried to get Jonathan into the car, but he ran toward the street instead. Without prompting, Boo darted in front of Jonathan, preventing him from reaching the dangerous street. Carrie was amazed at Boo's ability to sense danger and act on her own to save her son.

The world is full of hazards for autistic children, and it can be a scary, frustrating, lonely place. But dogs like Boo and Nitro can take these frightened kids and turn them into happy campers.