Emotional Support Dogs Helping Kids

What do Autism Awareness / Autism Acceptance Month and emotional support dog collars have in common? Kids, of course! Each April, we are reminded of the challenges families face raising a child with autism. This acceptance campaign has even led to mankind’s BFF sticking their wet noses right where they belong to be of help to these kiddos.

It should come as no shock that K9s can assist those with developmental difficulties. After all dogs:

• Lead the blind.
• Rescue people from deadly earthquakes.
• Can remember 1,000 different toy names - well this one could.
• Are a good shoulder to cry on day or night.

Emotional Support Dog Collars Proof 

Research is still underway, but is promising when it comes to canines fitted with therapy dog collars helping youngsters with autism. One study involving families with autistic children showed remarkable results for those with a dog - 94% of those children had bonded with their pet. 

This bonding can help in different areas. For one - we could all use a boost in comfort levels of socializing after the stress of 2020. Kids included! (Let’s rephrase this so we don’t sound like we are saying their child needs to learn to be social) And who is better at showing us how to be sociable than a friendly dog? 

• These furry pets have never met a stranger.
• They are perfect people pleasers.
• The best ones adjust to people quickly.

Believe it or not, we are not even talking about trained service animals. A regular ole family pet can comfort a child. Yep, even a Basset Hound with a questionable work ethic! Just think what a trained pup with a puzzle piece dog collar could mean to a kid in need of friendship. Not to mention the positive impact on the family as a whole.

Connection With Therapy Dog Collars 

The connection factor can’t be overstated between a loving dog and a child with a medical condition. All of us can feel isolated from time to time, but this can be amplified for children with autism. A well-mannered dog can be there for a youngster when they feel alone. Though, they can sense when their human needs space as well.

How did dogs become so smart and worthy of helping out with those who wear medical alert ID bracelets or autism bracelets? Well, it wasn’t magic and didn’t happen overnight. Dogs came from wolves - it’s true, even poodles. These amazing animals have been bonding with people for thousands of years. It likely started when a big-brained wolf saw it was easier to work with people than hunt their own food.

Modern humans like us get the benefit of all those centuries of our two species working as a team. 

Medical Hero Pups

If you’re curious what other superpowers K9s have, great! There’s a long list besides their ability to save folks trapped in a raging river or dig skiers out of an avalanche. 

• Dogs can sniff out cancer - A pair of testing poodles even went “on strike” when lab samples were accidentally switched making them appear wrong - poodles are always right.
• K9s use smell to sense an oncoming seizure - up to 45 minutes prior.
• Trained diabetic alert dogs can warn of dips or soaring glucose levels 30 minutes before the person notices an issue.
• Migraine medicine can be taken by dog owners before the person even knows they are going to have one, thanks to an all-knowing pup.

Now, those may not sound as exciting as a German shepherd saving a hiker from a mountain lion, but it meant the world to the person with the medical issue. Not to mention their family.

Protest Prevention

Even after all the superhero proof concerning dogs, you still smell a protest coming. You can appreciate a furry BFF for your child, but that won’t help with other issues like getting them to wear their medical alert ID bracelets. What if…

A child could be convinced by their dog - if the K9 is wearing a collar that happens to match the child’s Autism Awareness Bracelet. Yes, it’s trickery but you’re a parent, you should be a pro at it by now - I am!

So go ahead and save yourself the aggravation of begging your child to wear their medical ID bracelet. N-Style ID now has 3 matching sets of - an Autism Awareness Dog Collar to go with kids’ autism bracelets. More sets are coming soon, plus you can personalize the dog tags and customize the child’s ID tag.

Dogs can’t save the world, unfortunately. But they can sure make your little world less frustrating and a great deal safer.

sources: https://www.verywellhealth.com/best-pet-dog-for-a-child-with-autism-whats-your-advice-3971472#citation-1

https://www.businessinsider.com/dogs-smell-detect-epileptic-seizures-before-they-happen-2019-4?op=1

https://barkpost.com/discover/dogs-detect-low-blood-sugar-in-humans/

https://iheartdogs.com/6-medical-conditions-dogs-can-sense/