Who recommends a dog for a child on the spectrum?

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Dogs are wonderful for kids on the spectrum especially larger companion dogs like labs whose faces are level with their face when the child is young.

Exposure to horseback riding is also therapeutic. Insurance covers Hippotherapy (horse therapy) for ASD starting at the age of 2. Barn buddy programs are a wonderful way of teach executive function skills for older kids.

I know there are a ton of large breeds and toys. I'm not partial to toys, but I have come across a small breed dog "Bichon Frise". Now, that dog is a small dog, but not a toy and it seems to have a good disposition. When visiting my cousin in Australia several years back, her Bichon Frise was such a sweet dog, loved affection and was VERY loveable. I tend to prefer big dogs, but I'm not into labs.

Was wondering if anyone has had a Bichon Frise for their child on the spectrum and was it a good match? My daughter is quite playful and I think that might be a good match. Granted, still not looking to get a dog just yet, but exploring options. It would take some convincing for my hubby as like myself, he likes large breed dogs (like Rottweilers and Alsatian varieties). Me, I would just as soon have a slobbery St Bernard or an Aussie Cattle dog mix (the reason I say that is I have had one, but the only concern was mine was a Staffy x Dingo, Blue Heeler and while VERY loving, also very protective and needed a LOT of socialization which I didn't give her and that of course raised a dog that was suspicious and aggressive against anyone she didn't know (great for a single female at the time, but not great over all). Not downing my former dog. She was a great companion and LOVED affection and as someone with reclusive tendencies, it was always nice to have my dog with me.

So, now that I've waffled enough: Bichon Frise anyone? Not the well-groomed variety, but the ones that are more natural (almost wool-like in their appearance).

The are wonderful (both young and old) dogs at animal shelters too.
The staff should be able to advise you on a dog they usually know them well.
There's usually a trial period where you can see if the dog is a good fit for your family and you can return him or her if he/ she isn't a good fit.

Just this week, I learned that Utah has its own companion-animal facility for people with autism (Intermountain Therapy Animals https://www.utahparentcenter.org/service-animals ). I knew we had a few horse-therapy facilities, but this completes the picture.

That's awesome. I wish we had something similar in Kansas. I truly believe animals can be the bridge and sometimes the lifeline for those with neurological issues. I, myself have epilepsy and while it is fully controlled, there are dogs that can detect seizures before the seizure starts and one person I knew said the dog would lie on him, or grab his attention to get down before he got knocked down by the seizure. I am aware of elderly finding comfort in animals and I know kids (especially those that are having trouble with social interaction) can benefit greatly. Animals are often a more neutral bridge to the harsh world out there.

On gentleness: we had dogs (plural) before my son came into this world. They were old and calm by the time he was old enough to be aware of them (and over the playful stage, so mostly "furniture" to him - I like that way of putting it.)

As dogs do, they both passed away at ripe old ages, and it was clearly time for them to go (good lessons in death for an AS kid, especially when it isn't sudden or traumatic.) We then got a foster-to-adopt dog - a route I recommend for people with a special needs child; there are lots of private dog rescue agencies that look for homes to house their adoptable dogs temporarily...but are small enough organizations that you can explain you want to "test-drive" a dog, and are happy to house one of their dogs but will let them know whether or not to list it for adoption as you get acclimated. I know it's difficult to do something with a spectrum kid that might be temporary - but you really, really don't want to have a situation you have framed as permanent turn out to be temporary because it didn't work out (for all parties concerned.)

All that said, DS really struggled with accepting our dog's boundaries - fortunately all our dogs have been incredibly patient (they were all herding dogs, FWIW - though it depends on the individual dog) When he was younger, he really struggled to see the dog as something other than a moving stuffed toy. Not surprisingly, he didn't respond to cues that the dog wasn't enjoying what he was doing. He didn't cause them pain or suffering or do anything actively abusive, more that he did things a dog considers annoying - he likes to hug (dogs hate that even when they tolerate it) he wanted to tug on their tails and ears, he would try to pick them up to put them where he wanted them to be, etc. He also didn't tolerate normal doggy misbehavior, like chewing his toys or making messes (the dogs picked up on this surprisingly well, though - we had a chewer who destroyed furniture and my shoes but mostly left DS's stuff alone...probably because of the major meltdown that happened the first time.)

Some dogs can tolerate meltdowns, others can't - you really need to find the right fit. I recommend looking for an adult dog and not a puppy, as puppies' temperaments can be changeable, and temperament is the most important issue for a family with a special needs child. Also, I think kids on the spectrum seem to be more suceptible to allergies, so a try-before-you-buy approach is a good one (can you offer to dogsit for friends as a first step?)

All of that said, I still think dogs are a very good idea; certainly they help kids build interaction skills and really do help with loneliness (not just for the kid! ) ...but I'm just trying to caution you that it adds yet another layer of work to parenting kids who aren't easy to parent on a good day. Plus, for me, the dogs need care and want to be petted and touched by someone who is gentle - and by the end of a hard day, I DO NOT want to touch or be touched by ANYTHING, even though I've been a dog person my whole life (dogs were a special interest when I was little.)

Different kids will respond differently, of course - but think carefully about how your child will respond to a dog, and how much policing of both the child and dog's behavior you are willing/able to do.

I recommend a dog. I'm not a dog person at all, but we got a dog about 7 years ago and I would say the dog is the single best purchase I've ever made for my younger son. Our dog is a service dog though so the company did a lot of this work for us (at a very high price mind you). Ours is a golden retriever and he is playful, but he is also calm at the right times. We don't let our son around him if he's in full meltdown mode and screaming and throwing stuff, but I think the dog helps him not have as many meltdowns in the first place. He's a wonderful dog. Having the dog really helps my son in public especially. He doesn't run into the road as much or bolt as much, doesn't lie on the ground as much, and just generally stays calmer in public. Also, I think having a dog has made him relate better to people, he's gentler, listens better, respects space more. It was a bit of a challenge at first to teach him how to treat a dog, but it was definitely worth it. Now I'm just dreading when the dog dies.

Am I the only one who has a dog phobia? Am I?

I was a 'large working dogs only' person like your husband, but big dogs need space and apartment dwelling is better suited to the smaller breeds, like the Bichon Frise.
The Shih Tzu (one of the ancient breeds) was my introduction to the pure 'companion dog' variety, bred for one purpose... companionship, which they excel at. http://www.miracleshihtzu.com/shih-tzu-dog.html

Assuredly not, but you are looking at a thread that is likely to draw dog lovers! (This is also something to check - I know several friends' spectrum kids have dog phobias, especially due to sensory issues; they don't like being licked or sniffed, etc.)

I've never owned a Bichon, but I know many and they do seem like awesome, calm dogs; I think Shih Tzus are nice, too, but a little more energetic. With any small dog (any dog, really) the breed characteristics are secondary to the individual dog anyway...so get to know THAT dog. Small Dog Syndrome is something to watch for - it's an entirely human-created condition, but it's hard to stop once it starts: http://www.smalldogplace.com/small-dog-syndrome.html

I loved having dogs when I was a kid. I liked them more than people.

In the first three years of my life, my family lived on a small farm with lots of ducks, chickens, feral cats, a few horses, and a dog or two, and there weren't any children around for me to socialize with. I don't actually remember that period of my life, but I suspect it was good for me.

You can usually get a good 7-10 years out of a ferret. Since they're relatively uncommon compared to dogs and cats, there's not as much data out there as to what their life span should be, and veterinary practice isn't as advanced for them. They are mustelids, not rodents.

With rats and ESPECIALLY ferrets, you could easily run into problems caused by people's biases against them. They'd be great apartment pets except your landlord is likely to forbid you from having them, even if it's a "pet friendly" complex that allows dogs and cats. You could also have this problem with a lot of dog breeds. Ferrets are illegal in some parts of the USA.

Veterinary care for rats is can get ridiculously expensive. As much as I loooove rats, they probably aren't good for your situation.

I had a rescue kitten among many other pets. I have to say I didn't make a lot of smart decisions with most of them and many of them suffered for it. This kitten though had a full life and although I think my parents wanted her to teach me responsibility, it kind of backfired as I taught her how to feed herself and she got on a potty schedule of going outside with the dog when she needed to go. I did love that cat though. But I wasn't exceptionally emotional when she finally died of old age, but I'm weird when it comes to death in general. I don't grieve but rather hope they had a good life.

Hoping and helping them having a good life is a very unselfish way of looking at life and loved ones.