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Alsocalledautismassistanceorautismalertdogs,
thesearedogsthatlivealongsidechildrenoradults
withautism.(Incontrasttoautismtherapydogs,
whovisittreatmentandresidentialcentres.)Of
course,childrenandadultswithautismareindividuals
andnotallbenefitfromaservicedog.Butforthose
whorespondwell,itcanbelife-changing.
Towalkwithadog…istosharehisworld.Whatsightsandsoundsheencounters.Whatpastandpresentsmellshereads.Tostretchhislegs,tobaskinthesun,todiscoverandwindhiswaythroughthisbravenewhumanworld.
cheerfuldogschroniclesDogsinAction:AutismServiceDogs
Issue22Certified.Force-free.Dog-centred
• Withtheirswivellingears,dogscanlocatethe
sourceofasoundin0.06seconds.
• Dogshavefarfewertastebudsthanhumans,
butthe200millionscentreceptorsintheirnasal
folds(comparedtoour5million)nevertheless
makesomeofthemveryfinickyeaters.
• Thehaironadog’smuzzle,eyes,andjawsare
touch-sensitivehairscalledvibrissaethatcan
sensetinychangesinairflow.
• Dogshave39pairsofchromosomes.Humans
have23.
• Dogshaveabout10vocalchords.Catshave
morethan100.
• Studiesshowdogscanlearntodistinguishupto
100words,thoughChasertheBorderColliehas
learntthenamesofmorethan1,000objects
alone.
• Dogs’eyesaremoresensitivetolightand
movementthanoursbutlackourfocalrange
flexibility—youspotthetennisballinthegrass
rightaway;yourdognoticesabugflittingawingsomewhereintheperipheryinstead.
DidYouKnow:TheseDoggieFacts?
2
….Autismservicedogs
Characteristicofmostautismspectrum
disordersisthetendencytoliveinone’sown
world.Adogcanbeabridgetotheoutside
world.Theuniquebondthatgrowsbetween
dogsandhumansenticesmanykidsandadults
withautismtoopenup,communicatemore,
initiateinteractions,andrelaxinsituationsthat
otherwisecausestress.
Dogschosenasautismservicedogsmustbe
“bombproof,”meaningtheystaycalminalmost
anycircumstance.Thesingularskillofanautism
servicedogincludesdistractingfromrepetitive
behavioursor‘meltdowns’withanudgeofthe
noseorapaw,aswellasbeingtetheredtoa
persontopreventandprotecthimfrom
wandering.Thebenefitscanincludepositive
changesinbehaviour,emotionalcomfort,being
abletogotorestaurantsandshops,andbetter
andlongersleepforeveryoneinthefamilyas
thepersonwithautismmaywakelesswhenco-
sleepingwiththedog.
Tips&Tools:SafetyatYour
FingertipsSpottingillness.Asidefromthingsyoucansee,smell,
orhear(rashes,discharge,wheezing,etc.)lookoutfor
lossofappetite,disorientation,lethargy,persistent
scratching,coughing,orheadshaking.Allshould
promptatriptothevet.
Danger-freedriving.Useacarcrateorharness.Don’t
rollwindowssofardownthatyourdogcansqueeze
out.Alwayskeeptheleashonforentriesandexits.
Neverleaveyourdoginahotcar.
Doggiefirstaidkitnecessities.Antisepticwipes,
antibioticointment,eyewash,petroleumjelly,anti-
diarrhoeatablets,padbandagesandbandagescissors,
asyringe,tweezers,vetwrap,andarectal
thermometer.
Safeguardyourpoochwith…Areflectivevestor
lightedcollar,alifejacketforanywatersports,up-to-
dateIDtags,andamicrochipimplantwithyourcontact
information.
cheerfuldogs.comYourgo-totrainerforenlighteneddoglovers
Website:cheerfuldogs.com
cont.
cheerfuldogswalking.comProfessionaldogwalkingyoucantrust
Website:cheerfuldogswalking.com
Tel:96303884
Email:[email protected]
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