Considering getting an autism assistance dog need more info.

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I'm looking into getting an autism assistance dog. I am pretty high functioning in many areas of my life, but there are certain areas of my life I would love to have a dog trained to mitigate in such as my meltdowns and more frequent intense freaking out episodes which can lead to meltdowns if not mitigated in some way. I have been looking into some organizations and have even emailed one for more info. If any of you have been through the process of getting an autism assistance dog,please any info you can give me based on your own experiences would be appreciated. If anyone has any info in general on this topic please share. I want to be as informed as I can be before making a life decision like this.

Hi I am not exactly sure what an autism assistance dog is or does. I have had many dogs while I was growing up family dogs. When I turned 18 and moved out I got my own dog straight away he was my best friend. Great for long debriefing walks at the end of each day anduch easier to socialize when you have a dog by your side everywhere you go. I highly recommend it they are also very understanding and sympathetic when your loosing it. something warm to cuddle up to each night so loyal and fun to hang out with. It was the saddest day when he died 14.5 years old. A big responsibility hard to rent a place witha dog as well I have been homeless ona few occasions and had to live in my car cause I refused to give up the dog.

For helping with meltdowns likely the dog won't need any specific training. They'll just need to be a calm-temperament dog with a strong bond with you. My Labrador cross only had the basic obediance training, and when I had a meltdown she'd come up and look concerned and nuzzle me, and it always made me feel better.

Now, if you want the dog to take you out of noisy situations or something like that, that'll need training. Maybe try figuring out a signal you could give the dog when you're overloaded. Take the dog with you to a noisy place, give the signal, and then lead the dog to a quiet place and reward the dog. After awhile, if the dog starts tugging on the leash to go to the quiet place, follow their lead and reward them when they get there. (I could probably benefit from an assistance dog who knows to lead me out when there's a fire alarm.)

OP, have you had a dog (as a pet) before?
Just bringing up the point that you'll need to look after and, depending on where you live, pick up after your assistance dog.

Yes there has always been a dog in my home. However I have seen our current dog very little due to college and now in the summers I work in Maryland. In college I lived in dorms and for grad school I'll be in apartments owned by the school. In the summers I live in federal employee housing which is absolutely no pets. So I have not been around a dog constantly in a while. Do you think I should consider an emotional support dog instead. Basically they are just very well trained pets that are allowed into no pets housing with an official approval from a mental health professional.

Unless you need the dog to do other things beyond support you emotionally I would say get a letter from your psych (or whomever) and have an emotional support dog. My cat is an emotional support cat so he can live with me and travel on planes when I fly alone. He helps a lot when I am in the middle of a shut down/ selective mutism time because of life/work/family, and he is non judgmental and just lets me pet him and hug him, and he follows me around. It is a big help for me emotionally.

How is a getting an autism assistance dog different from just going to a shelter or a pet store and simply getting a dog that you find there? I have a dog and he's the best thing that ever happened to me bar none, but I don't consider him an "assistance dog". He's just my friend, more like my son actually, but that's really all you need - a dog who can be your friend, no special training required. Dogs are just naturally gifted in making you feel happy and loved. Just get one you like, you don't need anyone to recommend you a specific dog with special training to suite your autism.

But if you get a dog know that is a 10-12 year commitment you're making, financially, emotionally and physically. If you can't do that then don't get one.

Assistance dogs are (usually) allowed into places that say "no dogs". Also, they don't count as "pets" on tenancy agreements.

ESAs are great.

Why do you want an assistance dog? What do you want help with?

If you want it because a dog makes you calmer and you want a dog in your housing that's "no pets", without question, go for an ESA. ESAs do help with meltdowns (like my kitty ), though they're not trained.

If there are particular tasks you want done that would help mitigate your disability that require special training and where a dog is the appropriate place to be looking for help, then a service dog might be the answer.

However, from what you've said it looks like you want an ESA.

Thanks for all you replies guys. I think I'm definitely going for an ESA. And yes for those of you who mentioned the responsibility involved I do realize that it would be a huge responsibility. We have horses, a dog, and a cat at home and although I was never the primary caretaker, my parents were, I watched and still watch how much time is taken up taking care of them. I'll get my first taste of being on my own with my horse once I find a barn to board him at by my grad school this fall. I think the calm and love the dog would provide me would be worth the responsibility though. Living barely seeing my pets at home since I started under grad has definitely changed my demeanor a little, I'm sure other experiences were involved to though. I've came to the conclusion that I need the constant love and companionship of an animal for my anxiety and freak out moments. One of my co-workers brought the litter of puppies her dog just had to employee housing two days ago and the minute one of those cuties looked at me all my problems were gone in that moment. Again thank you to all of you for helping me out with this decision.

Assistance dogs are best seen as similar to Guide Dogs (this is for people who don't know what they'd be an equivalent to).

They are trained to interrupt self-harm, to know where the car/home is so if you're having a meltdown they can lead you there, aid in walking (some people with ASDs do have bad balance, plus visual problems with distance), and other similar functions.

I'd probably need one if I was expected to shop for myself.

I got my big black lab Ted since I was having trouble sleeping at night, because I was obsessing about intruders and such. Best thing I ever did, it is so calming sitting on the couch with him since he lets me hug him for hours sometimes. It also helps brining him out with me, just to get out of the house since I don't really feel comfortable being out.
Animals are just perfect.

The only problem I have is he barks at strangers, and the sound can be overwhelming.
Also, he no longer fits on my bed.