Did you know that dogs can help children with special needs?
Dogs have a surprising and wonderful affect on children with special needs from being a simple companion to being a service/therapy dog trained to detect seizures, comfort children with anxiety, and more!!
The article The Surprising Ways Dogs Help Children with Special Needs by North Shore Care Supply put it perfectly when it said,
“Dogs are affectionate, loyal animals which makes them unique from any other animal…there is something about a dog that can really touch a child in very surprising ways.”
There are several testimonials from families with children with a variety of special needs (Autism, Down Syndrome, seizures, etc.) that have experienced the incredible affect a dog can have on their child. Check out this video from 4 Paws for Ability to see how a dog has influenced the life of not only children but entire families.
Dogs can serve one of three purposes:
1) A companion dog offers comfort and eases anxiety by offering their unconditional love
2) A therapy dog does the same things as a companion but are also trained for the specific needs of a child. They might provide comfort, protect the child, or even prevent the child from wondering off.
3) A service dog helps people with disabilities with a variety of tasks (e.g., opening a door, etc..
Therapy dogs can serve a multitude of purposes from bringing comfort to a child, protecting the child, or preventing a child from wandering off.
Read more here.
“There is seemingly no end to the possibilities of connection and peace that a dog can provide.” - North Shore Care: The Surprising Ways Dogs Help Children with Special Needs
How do you find the therapy dog/breed that’s best for your child?
When picking a dog, you first need to answer the question, “Does your child need a companion or a well trained therapy or service dog?” Think of your entire family and what breed would fit best with your lifestyle, as well as, the breed that would fit well with your child.
Meet Link!!
Link is the newest member to our family. He is already bringing so much joy and love to my husband and me! Link is a goldendoole and is already such an amazing companion!
