Asperger's and Animals
Mummy_of_Peanut
Veteran
Joined: 20 Feb 2011
Age: 51
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,564
Location: Bonnie Scotland
We're a family of animal lovers. But, my husband has always insisted that we shouldn't get a pet: too much responsibility, etc. Then on Saturday, he suddenly said that maybe it was time for us to get a dog. To say I was astounded is an understatement. He's obviously been silently mulling the idea over. So we've been to the local dog rescue centre and fell in love with a 2 yr old lurcher. He was one of very few that was suitable for a family with young children. We were told to read as much as we could about the breed, before being sure about it, which we've done. I've been in two minds about it. Deciding yes, then no, then yes again. It's a huge decision, especially as he's very different from other dogs I've met. He's not the typical hyper, jumping up and down, excitable, barking dog. He's sedate, walks nicely on the lead, doean't jump up on people and appears to be very well trained. However, he's a lurcher, which means he likes to run and very possibly catch prey. So he's going to be on the lead, most of the time, and possibly muzzled, when off it. As he's a rescue dog, it's unclear what he's been exposed to, so it's going to be a huge learning curve. But, we've decided to take on the challenge and do our very best to give this dog the loving home he deserves. It's not what we expected, but the fun starts on Saturday, so long as our house/garden passes the inspection on Thursday.
_________________
"We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiatic about." Charles Kingsley
LtlPinkCoupe
Veteran
Joined: 7 Dec 2011
Age: 32
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,044
Location: In my room, where it's safe
Dogs really seem to like me...when I was travelling abroad for a month this summer and was staying with a host family, their two dogs really bonded with me. They had this big rescue dog who would run right over to me and jump up on me (which was pretty interesting, since she was as tall as I was when she stood on her hind legs) whenever I came thru the door. Their other dog, a shih tzu, would come running over to me, too. Even their cat seemed to like me, and cats are usually pretty indifferent to me.
_________________
I wish Sterling Holloway narrated my life.
"IT'S NOT FAIR!" "Life isn't fair, Calvin." "I know, but why isn't it ever unfair in MY favor?" ~ from Calvin and Hobbes
I think animals and aspies have a special connection. I think animals respond to us because we are in so many ways hyper aware of our bodies and the environment. Its almost like our senses are tuned up and so we are almosy as aware of the environment as animals. I find this is especially so with cats. But thats just my opinion.
_________________
Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
- The Dalai Lama
One of the most common things that cause problems for people who adopt dogs is the people worry about what the animal has gone through. Worrying about the animals past affects the persons behavior toward the animal. The animal picks up on this pity or worry and it reinforces troubled behavior in the animal because it it looking to the human for cues on how to behave. Don't feel sorry for him or worry about him. Just keep in mind that animals live in the present and not the past. Just be a good role model and he will be fine. Oh and most important thing- walk with your dog a lot, minimum 2 times per day. Use their migrating instinct to help you bond with him faster. And last but not least, use your hands to handle his food to associate you with food, one of every dogs great loves
Thank you for adopting a dog instead of buying one.
Mummy_of_Peanut
Veteran
Joined: 20 Feb 2011
Age: 51
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,564
Location: Bonnie Scotland
One of the most common things that cause problems for people who adopt dogs is the people worry about what the animal has gone through. Worrying about the animals past affects the persons behavior toward the animal. The animal picks up on this pity or worry and it reinforces troubled behavior in the animal because it it looking to the human for cues on how to behave. Don't feel sorry for him or worry about him. Just keep in mind that animals live in the present and not the past. Just be a good role model and he will be fine. Oh and most important thing- walk with your dog a lot, minimum 2 times per day. Use their migrating instinct to help you bond with him faster. And last but not least, use your hands to handle his food to associate you with food, one of every dogs great loves
Thank you for adopting a dog instead of buying one.
_________________
"We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiatic about." Charles Kingsley
I always get along with animals. When I'm out at a feedlot standing next to a pen, it takes everything I can do to not reach through and scratch the neck or forehead on the more curious cattle that aren't afraid of humans. And I can't resist scratching a horses neck if he'll let me.
Dogs and cats all get petted.
One problem is that I usually ignore signs by some animals that they don't feel too friendly toward me.
A couple of months ago, I was at someone's house when their dog jumped two fences, came around me from behind, and grabbed ahold of my cutoffs with its teeth. My reaction? I reached back to pat it on the head. That really confused it.
This past Tuesday I was at someone's house and they have a new dog that seemed okay as long as noone looked at it. It took any glance its way as a direct challenge. So it was barking wildly at me and I was trying to walk up to pet it. I finally stopped looking directly at it and it calmed down a bit walked up behind me and sniffed of my legs. It still wouldn't let me turn around and pet it, though.
Similar Topics | |
---|---|
Do you think animals have feelings? |
02 Apr 2024, 7:05 pm |
Question about Asperger Syndrome and tem "Severe Asperger" |
29 Jan 2024, 11:37 pm |
Many Asperger's cases unrelated to Kanner's autism IMO |
10 Feb 2024, 10:56 am |