Do having animals around help you with your aspergers?

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I find my cats and my dog to be a comfort in many ways.

Totally. Whenever I'm around animals of any type I just feel more comfortable and relaxed. For instance, whenever I take my dogs on a walk around my neighborhood, I always feel more at ease talking to people. I think it's because we can just talk about my dogs or their dogs if they are walking a dog.

Like other people have said I also think I just feel more comfortable around animals because I know that they are not going to judge me or treat me differently if I say or do something wrong. I have two dogs, a rat, a mouse, and a hermit crab for pets and I love spending time with all of time because I know they love me unconditionally. For the most part I would rather spend time with my pets than people just because I feel more comfortable around them. I also feel that I can somehow relate more to animals than people...even though that sounds kind of weird.

If you like cats there's the Sphinx breed. Totally hairless.
I don't know their temperament because I've only had "free to good home" cats (moggies).

I started with hermit crabs, which died because we couldnt get the right kind of light. We then got Gueniepigs, and mine died from a cold fairly early on. Now I have a dog for the last 8 or so years, its a bit embarasing as she is very small and I am quite tall. Also I have developed an alergy to dogs, I can live with dogs its just when I get to the same level as them or can smell there hair my throught tingles like crazy, and I dont know if I am a dog person. I might be a cat person but my mum is alergic to cats, and I have noticed that I have simular characteristics to cats.

Also Poodles and Labradoodles (Poodles and Labrador crosses) are also hypoallergenic. Any dog that has hair instead of fur will be hypoallergenic and there are a lot more of them about now, a lot of dogs that have been crossed with Poodles. Also please don't judge the poor poodle on the horrific cuts they are given, find images of non show dogs to see what they are really like.

there's also sphinx cats w/o hair.

Er, guys? Hairless breeds still produce dander. And considering they're somewhat prone to skin issues, some of them produce more of it. And in cats, it's not even just dander that's the main allergen. Though I haven't a reference handy, I've seen it suggested that proteins in the oils of their skin and/or in their saliva are to blame for most allergies. Yes, lacking hair means that these allergens are less likely to build up on the animal, but is it really better to have them shed it all over your house?

Regardless, the breeds of animals most commonly accepted as somewhat hypoallergenic are those with curly coats. For dogs, this means breeds like the poodle; for cats, it's the rex breeds. No, I haven't the slightest idea the mechanism behind this, and yes, some people do still have averse reaction to even these breeds.



As for the original topic of this thread, certainly. The presence of an ally is appreciated as stated by others above, but there's also the fact that I'm actually better at interpreting their body language than most humans. It's a confidence booster, having people look to you for guidance. And it's certainly nice to have someone ELSE acting the social ret*d for once!

As an alternative, Rabbits make good pets for prople with allergies too. They are easily socialized if you start young, or give them a lot of time, and they can be trained to use a sandbox among other things. They're also cheaper & easier to keep than ferrets. I have a rabbit who will sit with me when I watch TV. he also snuggles & gives "bunny kisses"

PS, it isn't dander that people are allergic to it's the proteins in their saliva. Furthermore, if a person is subjected to the animal from the time they are babies (kittens/puppies) there is a high chance that they will become immune to them as well.

animals relax me better than drugs with far fewer side effects. i don't know what it is about them but i just feel at ease when they're around. when my dog was alive i didn't even have to be around her, just the knowledge that she was around made me feel good.

they also give you something to look at if you're talking to someone so you don't have to worry about eye contact.

I love creatures of all sorts and like to lay in the grass and watch them. I love cats but cannot own any due to rent issues. So i have to get my pet fix via nature.

My experience with animals haven't been good. When I was a kid I had a small puppy that followed me everywhere i went. Even when I was riding my bike it would chase after me. Then I had this episode where I was so angry and for no reason than wanting to hurt something I kicked the puppy in her/his stomach. I still vividly remember the way the puppy would look at me after that incident. The head down and the eyes looking upwards at me. I regret what I did and the recollection is saddening.
I had another bad incident when riding on a motorbike with my cousin and ran over a small puppy.
Another one was when I had a cat follow me home. I fed her some crisps and she pucked all over my furniture lol. I let her go.

I also have a moral issue - I feel animals should be free not domesticated for my pleasure. The pet inductry is sickening.

No, animals and me don't work. They're noisy, smelly, expensive and would make me feel guilty if I kept them to myself. Not for me.

I would love to have an animal, but i have always avoided because i cannot convince myself i will be able to take care of it properly. But i always play with any animal i cross path with. If they are willing to play with me ofcourse.