How Animals Help Autistic People (Service Dog, Horse Riding & Pets) 

I became a dog groomer as a second career (I was an accountant), and it was so fulfilling. I can read dog body language better than human any day (of course i studied human behavior my whole life bc NT humans are weird). When i developed severe ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) and became bedridden, my little dog Izzy appointed himself my caregiver, along with my husband. Izzy hasn't left my side except to eat and go outside these four years. His loyalty is one of the best things in my life. ❤

I need a service dog but am unable to get one currently and I have been told so many times that "i dont actually need one" even tho i cant even do in to a store alone without getting so overwhelmed that i just sit on the floor dissociating and need to call someone to come guide me out. Its so stressful and embarrassing

It has been one of the best decisions for me to keep rats - they have helped me to overcome my eating disorder and helped me through all the covid lockdown isolation - i don't know how i would have survived that time without them!

I love cats! Theor purrs are so calming and their fur is so soft! These fur balls soothe my anxiety just by being my side and I love them so much!

My mum used to teach people to ride and had her own horses from when she was young. She taught me to ride and I loved it. I can't do it now but I loved it at the time.

Glad to see you looking so relaxed and happy!

Agreed 100%. I am blessed to be surrounded by dogs, cats, horses, sheep, alpacas and a goat ❤ I have bad days but I have to keep going for them. You have inspired me to go down the disabled competing with horses. Why hadn't I thought of that? Thank you ❤

I love horses!! I’m allergic to them and used to sneeze for hours after riding but I didn’t care. I enjoy the rhythm of movement when sitting on a walking horse.

My family and ANIMALS are MY BESTFRIENDS 🥰🤍🤍 I can’t live without them 🥰🤍🤍

Spent my pocket money as a child for "Voltigieren" (don't know english word) as my parents too won't pay for riding lesson. Later gave "Voltigier"lessons myself to afford riding. Always had pets, animal behaviour is one of my special interest and they comfort me a lot! My tomcat sadly died in april after nearly 16 years (cancer), but his sister is still with me. I so badly want to adopt a dog on my own, it helps me a lot to go outside with a dog. I cared parttime for two. The problem is if they are not service-dogs one is not allowed to bring them everywhere and so I deeply wish to be able to afford a trained one or train one with a specialized trainer to get him certified (Germany). Enjoyed this video, watched some of the older (thanks for the info again) already. Congrats for 1st place, Ella🎉

Thanks, Ella. 💖

I’ve trained Georgia and meadow to do deep pressure therapy meadow has nailed it but Georgia is still in training

💜Thank you for the new video, Ella! I love horses, too. Lifelong love, I rode my first horse when I was 3. As a little girl I collected model horses called, “Breyer” horses, still have my collection today. I would ride whenever I could, worked a few summers at a Shetland Pony ranch near my home, pretend played being a “horse” all the time, and tried to convince my mother that we had room in our tiny backyard to keep a horse. I fully understand the feeling of calm and feeling soothed around horses. I love the soft velvety prickly sensation of petting their noses. I do not keep dogs for my support animals, my husband is allergic. But I do keep cats, and they often give me the same deep pressure laying on my lap. I only wish I could take them out with me, it would help tremendously with navigating places that I do not know and feel uncomfortable and anxious having to go to. 💜

I wish I knew about autism assistance dogs and how to train one yourself when we still had terriers, because our one American rat terrier was my little buddy and she might've been a good assistance dog. I actually think she might've been autistic, because she didn't understand how to play with dogs or how toys worked, and liked to be covered loosely in a towel or a blanket. She did sometimes cuddle with me when I was dealing with bad weather headaches, though, so that was nice ☺

My chihuahua Mulaney helps me so much every day! Besides making me laugh, he knows when I’m about to have a flashback (I have CPTSD) or when I’m having a meltdown. He helps by kissing my face relentlessly and it’s definitely grounds me. I have never trained him to do anything to help me, he just does this on his own. I want to train him to do pressure points instead of the incessant licking, and maybe be able to have him trained to be in public and also assist me there. I got lucky with Mulaney, that he is so in tune with me. Idk if he’ll be able to be in public (and not get distracted because he wants to make friends), but either way, he is so helpful for me at home! He’s funny, and talkative, and has such a personality. I’m so blessed to have him!

I adopted another dog (my third) at the beginning of March. He and I ended forming a very strong bond, and he is now my shadow. He has, on his own, done those same behaviours you mentioned. When I have a meltdown, shutdown, am anxious, upset, he will lie on me and give me kisses. I have never calmed down so quickly! My husband is also amazed by how differently I react with him versus how I was prior. He also will stand between me and a stressor to block/shield me from it. He senses when I'm bothered by something and will do the blocking thing. He may, afterward, sit on me and snuggle to help even further. He rarely leaves my side, and he has helped me so much in these and other ways. I've definitely thought about looking into owner training. It seems daunting, though! I think he'd do well, though 💜

Well you have at least one subscriber from Australia 😉 We call them assistance dogs here too. My sister actually works for assistance dogs Australia and worked for Guide Dogs Victoria for over 15 years as a guide dog instructor. So proud. Our father was blind and had a few guide dogs which was her inspiration to help.

I was lucky that I got horse riding lessons as a kid. I especially loved grooming the horses, the rising trot and tölt. However, I was terrified of jumping (and heights in general) and so when the level got to that sort of difficulty, I was too anxious to continue and quit. I have ridden a few times since (only Iceland ponies I think) and I always get this rush of childish euphoria being back in the saddle and can't stop grinning! One time at a group teambuilding place, they had Iceland ponies and when things got too overwhelming I went down to the stables and just leaned on the horse I had ridden earlier and gave them some scritches and a brush. Beautiful and so calming they were. ❤

Agreed!❤

Thank you.

I love to hear how Coco is helping you :) I love service animals dearly. They are gorgeous beings. Sidenote oh my gosh you are at or have already been at the championship! How did it go??? (for riding i mean!) I love horses also, I used to work on a horse farm with 60 of them. Have a beautiful rest of your week lovely!

Amazing video

I wish there were service cats. But I live in a car, I could not house a gerbil, much less a dog or cat.😢

My assessment is in a few days. Anything I should know to prepare?

Tell me if I am being unreasonablr, but every autistic influencer either has a good education, or comes from money. If you come substance abuse, or don't have an good education. It's life ruining. It stops you from getting jobs. I feel like it should be pointed out.

I think horsebackriding is wrong, especially with oron in their sensitive mouths. Do not oppress other beings for your well being

I'm against animals helping people :(