Autism/Aspergers and

Dog Interation

The impact of using animals in “Animal Assisted Activities” has been evident in both quantitative and qualitative ways.  Studies have shown that merely having an animal present or participating in animal visits results in benefits for both adults and children.

"Many children on the autistic spectrum relate better to animals than to people. Autistic children typically have trouble making verbal exchanges and understanding complex social cues, neither of which is necessary to become a dog's best friend."
-Anna Coulton, Columbia News Service

One of the first reports of the use of dogs in mental health therapy, authored by prominent child psychiatrist Dr. Boris Levinson, was published in Mental Hygiene in 1962.  The article, entitled “The dog as a co-therapist” documented Dr. Levinson’s observations of the interaction between his child patients and his pet dog Jingles during therapy sessions.  He reported that the dog served as a communication link, providing a sense of security to the child and quickening the therapy process.

Dr. Levinson found that there was a significant benefit to children who were nonverbal, inhibited and autistic. One of the important benefits he discovered was that the presence of the dog helped to strengthen autistic children's contact with reality.

In 1992, at the Sixth International Conference on Human-Animal Interaction, Carol Campbell and Aaron Katcher presented the results of their controlled study “Animal assisted therapy dogs for autistic children: Quantitative and qualitative results.”  They reported and a significantly increased social response by children to both animal and therapist with whom they were working.

Interaction with canines aids these children in a wide variety of ways, including:

  • increasing a child’s sense of trust through the animal’s love, affection and consistency
  • promoting patience and self-control
  • a sense of self esteem through providing care for another living being
  • improving socialization and communication
  • reducing general anxiety (a well documented effect of canine companionship)
  • an increase in the ability to play
  • learning to receive and give appropriate affection
  • learn gentle handling
  • learning to following a sequence of instructions
  • learning to observe and respond appropriately to behavior