Boxers an autistic children

[jessmke]

I have a two-year old nephew who is autistic, Aspen is great with him. When both of my sisters visit there are 7 kids under the age of 7 all in my house at one time and Aspen is always right in the thick of things and letting the kids dress her up and pull on her ears.

[Georgiapeach]

I have a profoundly mentally handicapped grown child, Joseph, who's 24 (but small for his age), and who lives in a group home 4 hours from us. Autism is only one of a myriad of issues our son has, which is why he lives away from us.

We visit Joseph a weekend every month, towing a tiny foldable camper we have, to stay in at a campground near Joseph's center. Dempsey met him for the first time a couple of months ago, and without blinking, he ran to the car after we let him out of the camper, to where Joseph was still sitting in the back seat of the car, flapping, and making his very unusual sounds. Dempsey stood on his hind legs, put his front legs on the edge of the seat of the car, and started showering Joseph with kisses - mind you, he'd never met the kid before! Joseph started laughing and trying to pet/swat Dempsey - what a sweetie!! Nothing about Joseph phased this dog - and Joseph definitely acts "different". During the visit, Dempsey didn't want to leave Joseph's side. God, I love this dog!

[GoudasMom]

Especially Gouda was great with the mentally challenged adults I work with. Kippah does well too but is still in the puppy type stage so not as calm as Gouda was. I think they just know

[Bella's Biggest Fan]

In my house we have children of all different capabilities... and yes all are different but unique... when we first got our foster son four yrs ago he was non verbal and would have severe meltdowns,,, our baby girl at that time was two yrs old,,,a boxer named crash.. well low and behold she would go right into his face when he melted down and kiss him and blow on his face and it was amazing,,, meltdown was over,, I mean how can you seriously scream and cry when you have this face blowing on you and kissing you? still makes me cry,, I miss her a lot... Bella and my boys are now around him and five other people who have autism.. on a daily basis... and I cannot see another breed being as in tune so to speak.... it does take time and training on every ones part but there is something about our boxers which makes them connect in way which only God can explain...

[owenowlsnest]

Some dogs don't like being touched all the time, or being held down so they have touch (sensory) issues like autism-spectrum humans! Years ago our Boxer would get really stressed, and avoid our son as he aged. I learned to keep a fairly constant eye on how rough the play was. I'd keep them apart if I saw stress in the dog.

[Joshua Carter]

Jessmke, That is a beautiful picture! looks professionally done!