Dog With Autism...?

[Animal House]

Has anyone ever heard of this before? I had a behaviourist liken my new puppy to a child with Autism. I can't find much info on google for this so just wondering if anyone has any experiences?

No, but I've met a few aloof dogs, humans held no value for them.

Was your puppy like this at the breeders too?

[Steph M]

Only in a discussion with a breeder in the USA.

There is a school of thought it might exist.

Bear in mind I am speaking only as a lay person.

We were discussing a puppy's behaviour AFTER vaccination.

The breeder sincerely felt the puppy had issues after being vaccinated, not observed in its earlier life.

Purdue University wrote a paper on it. Dr Jean Dodds has alluded to issues of vaccination over her many years of practice.

Maybe look with google for canine autism and vaccination.

It's important to remember that autism is not caused by vaccinations :)

YES.

[VizslaMomma]

It's important to remember that autism is not caused by vaccinations :)

With ALL due respect, please read what I wrote. I made no such statement.

To note further, I do not intent to argue online with strangers after having to have my own dog treated because of numerous issues post vaccination.

[Steph M]

It's important to remember that autism is not caused by vaccinations :)

With ALL due respect, please read what I wrote. I made no such statement.

To note further, I do not intent to argue online with strangers after having to have my own dog treated because of numerous issues post vaccination.

I don't think anyone was arguing, but making a point based on the science currently available for those who might stumble across this post with similar issues.

There is already enough panic and dramatics around vaccinations as is, we needn't spread that further.

A point was just made for future reference, no one was calling you a liar or starting a fight.

[spikey]

Dogs can indeed be 'wired wrong' ... what it is named, I have no idea .

Dogs can indeed be "wired wrong" - I've owned one. He had major behavioural issues, including aggression towards dogs (even other puppies) and people which developed when he was about 5 months old, and he would also have instances where he didn't seem to recognise us or familiar things around him and would become absolutely hysterical. NOTHING we tried worked with him - I was convinced that it was something I was doing wrong, or that I wasn't an experienced enough dog owner (and the breeder actually encouraged this line of thinking) until I spoke to our vet in absolute despair and he told me that it wasn't me, there are just some dogs that are born with something wrong with the "hard wiring", it's simply the way they are and unfortunately even copious amounts of training, behavioural therapy etc usually doesn't help. It wasn't the poor dog's fault, but I was relieved to know that it wasn't my "fault" either and I didn't make him the way he was. Later we found out that there was a strong incidence of epilepsy in his bloodlines (which we hadn't been told previously), which we think may have been a major contributing factor as several puppies from the same litter turned out the same way.

[hankdog]

I would highly recommend separating from your other dog. Jake has oddball behaviour which I've often thought seemed what I would expect an "autistic" dog to look like.

Most of the people we have consulted concur that being raised as the younger of two dogs will have caused some issues. He has a superstitious learning style, if we walk a side of the road once then we always have to walk that side of the road etc.

I think relying on an older dogs judgment means they don't build their own confidence. I've been advised to change times of walks, the order in which things are done etc. well worth getting a behaviourist in but make sure you get a good one. Not every behaviourist has the depth of knowledge required for "odd" dogs.

[shapeshifter]

I completely believe it's possible, although I don't think I'd call it autism. I swear my horse has a horse version of ADD.

[Maddy]

It's important to remember that autism is not caused by vaccinations :)

With ALL due respect, please read what I wrote. I made no such statement.

To note further, I do not intent to argue online with strangers after having to have my own dog treated because of numerous issues post vaccination.

I don't think anyone was arguing, but making a point based on the science currently available for those who might stumble across this post with similar issues.

There is already enough panic and dramatics around vaccinations as is, we needn't spread that further.

A point was just made for future reference, no one was calling you a liar or starting a fight.

Also worth pointing out it was only the MMR vaccine that was alleged to cause autism, not the process of vaccinating- which is a very important point. Not that the vaccination issue is worth getting into, it's worse than religion at times.

But anyways.. I have a dog with epilepsy who is also a bit "different" but I'm not sure I'd consider it the same thing as autism in humans. Idiot Dog gets overwhelmed easily, has issues coping in some situations, has balance issues, can't interact "correctly" with other dogs and can't do quite a few things normally but those differences are related to whatever brain damage/dysfunction causes his epilepsy and his lack of vision in one eye. Some of those things have improved with very careful and slow training (he gets overstimulated quite easily and we also have medication to deal with) but he'll never be "normal" because obviously certain parts of his brain are actually damaged somehow. I assume it was perhaps something that happened during birth (rest of his litter were completely normal) and given how much the likelihood increases with dogs- as opposed to human births involving only one child and a lot of intervention- I'm surprised there aren't a higher percentage of not-quite-rights around.

[Pjrt]

Talking to a friend of mine earlier today got me posing a question to myself. One that I cannot answer. And one that I wonder has there been any research on or anecdotal evidence even. So here it is. My friend was a 'late baby' born as a bit of a surprise when her mother was in her late forties and already had adult children. My friend has multiple disabilities, both mental and physical. She has never had a specific diagnosis. She has had multiple surgeries over the years. Purpose done limb breaks and resets, muscle relax surgery, brain shunt etc etc. .......so it got me wondering whether there is any evidence at all of more health issues in litters born to older bitches? My friend was born in the early seventies. These days a pregnant woman in her late forties would have all sorts of monitoring, testing and nutritional interventions etc...... Anyway, just something that popped into my head..

[dancinbcs]

Some dogs need much more stimulation than even a dedicated owner can give them. We see it occasionally in Border Collies where a very hyper puppy wants to be on the move all day, running circles or a fence line and despite intense obedience and show training, that they do well at, they just have no connection with the owner. Some friends of mine got one like this as their second BC after their kids had grown up and moved out. They spent a whole year working with a well known and respected trainer and at the end of that year, had a very obedient dog that still was not the slightest bit interested in them if they were not actually training. As soon as he was released he would run endless circles. After asking around we found a few others who had similar experiences so they decided to take their advice on board and offer the dog to the Dept of Corrective Services as a drug detection dog. One of their handlers came out and worked the dog for a couple of hours, rolled around on the ground with him, played vigorous tug games, spinning the dog off his feet and was very physical hands on with him. The dog loved it, responded and was totally focused on this handler. He was exactly what they look for in a detection dog and he went off with the handler without a backwards glance. His owners had just not been in a position to work him all day and that was the only thing that he wanted to do. He had a wonderful working life where he got to work all day every day and eventually retired with his handler's family. His former owners went on to successfully own, train and show 3 more Border Collies with no issues whatsoever. He was just the wrong dog for them but like a few others we know of before him, he was a perfect working detection dog. These types of dogs don't turn up very often but when they do they are not really suited to a normal home as a pet or with a breeder. They have to work to be happy.

[Nekhbet]

Your dog doesn't have autism and that is not even a good analogy. To be distracted in puppy school and not wanting to be touched by strangers to me would not warrant that comment. Yes we do need to separate new dogs/pups a bit more to have them bond more to you then other dogs BUT if the dog will work for food then this is a socialisation/training issue for the long term. Find yourself a decent behaviorist if you want good advice.

[sandgrubber]

Has anyone ever heard of this before? I had a behaviourist liken my new puppy to a child with Autism. I can't find much info on google for this so just wondering if anyone has any experiences?

No, but I've met a few aloof dogs, humans held no value for them.

Was your puppy like this at the breeders too?

Some humans hold very little value to anyone ;)

But if a dog has a condition analogous to autism, it would be non-responsive to other dogs.

I'm no expert, but I'm told many autistic individuals are responsive to non-human animals.

[Kajtek]

I do not have experience with this but I have a dog guru - Patricia McConnell.

Perhaps you can post the question on her facebook https://www.facebook.com/PatriciaMcConnellPhD or maybe send her your questions via contact us on her blog http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/

You never know, she may be willing to respond.

Just a thought.... and good luck

[Simply Grand]

I'm trying to figure out the words to explain why I say Riley seems like he has Asperger's...

He's not dumb and is teachable and pays attention but he takes a long time to learn new things. Once it eventually clicks for him though he loves to show me his tricks. As an example it took him until he was 2 years old to figure out fetch although he always loved the ball. It was a step by step process of first of all actually pick up the ball, then carry it a little way then bring it a bit closer then eventually bring it all the way to me. I know that's a learning process for most dogs but 2 years? :laugh: He also will only fetch for me and a limited number of other people he's known for a while in the context of playing fetch, although he'll stand and bark at people to throw the ball when they actually do throw it he looks confused and just walks away.

He's funny about people, usually he avoids people he doesn't know and even those he does (other than me) but then some days he's randomly friendly and happy to walk up to strangers and get pats. He's always super affectionate with me though.

He doesn't mind being around other dogs but has never figured out how to play with them, he can play chase with Saxon and chase and wrestle with Quinn but that's it. If other dogs around him start playing and he gets excited he runs at Quinn and grabs onto the fur around her neck. EVERY time, that's his only way of playing.

He's also clumsy, he tends to just randomly fall over sometimes and since he learnt to jump into my arms on cue he will just do it sometimes even when I'm clearly carrying a box or something and can't catch him. He just falls back on the ground.

He's very routine driven too, with things like getting up in the morning I have to take him straight outside because his routine is to pee as soon as he gets up so if I don't get him outside he'll go on the carpet, even though at other times he's fine to hold on until he can get outside. He also sometimes seems to just bark at nothing without thinking and when you interrupt him by saying "what?" he looks around like he didn't even realise he was barking.

They're all little things that don't necessarily sound like anything, but just as an overall package he's an "odd" little dog. It doesn't bother me at all or cause any real problems, it's actually hilarious but he's definitely a little bit speshul.

[Panzer Attack]

My dog is so similar to yours, Simply Grand, he hasn't got any balance issues but he's always been a bit spesh (said with love!) and the ex and I used to joke he had Aspergers. A behaviourist told me something similar too.

Having said that, he's a great dog and I wouldn't swap him for the world. He had a normal upbringing and was from an amazing breeder that cared a LOT about the litter, so it's a bit odd.

[Simply Grand]

I don't think it's even balance issues Panzer, his feet just slide out from under him sometimes and down he goes. He just jumps up again and continues on his way :laugh: I call him my special middle child :)

[Scottsmum]

Im with simply grand. If Scottie was a kid he'd be on the spectrum.

I suppose the thing to remember is that the Autism spectrum in humans is very complex and different in everyone and difficult to understand unless youre trained or live with it (I'm not / don't).

Complex conversation. I might gave a look in the uni library database for papers :)

Edited October 18, 2014 by Scottsmum

[hankdog]

Have you considered he might have issues with his sight. Jake has divergent eyes and this affects what he perceives and I think gives him a lot of issues. His clumsiness could be related to not being able to see correctly. I have no idea how you test a dog's eyes.

[JulesP]

Not a huge deal of info more just Saying it’s going to take a LOT of time and she may never be a dog that likes humans... trying to work out what training strategy to use., want to build her trust but also don’t want her to get away with things, like being defiant and running away. ( this was just a puppy school but the trainer is a qualified behaviourist) She mentioned pup might be relying on our other dog too much. We are going away this weekend so I’m leaving pup with a friend with lots of dog knowledge and taking spud to my parents so they have a weekend apart to see if there is any improvement in her behaviour. I’m just waiting on pay day to have the in home consult with another lady.

I sent the breeder an email telling them everything that is currently going on and asking for information.

At puppy school I was sitting on the floor and had all the other pups playing all over me and trying to get my attention whilst Stella walked off and did her own thing. She was very happy to play with the other pups but if a person tried to touch her she ran off. Or if someone called her she would sit, look at them then walk the other way.

She wants NOTHING to do with people.

Edited to add - she will work for food. she is very smart and knows what to do. she will not concentrate on the person with the food only the food but at least its a way in

No your puppy doesn't have autism or anything like it. The instructor was silly to tell you that.

Other things simply have higher value to it than people. This can be improved on.

My current 2 dogs don't like me hugging them. They are dogs so I don't take this personally. Dogs are dogs.

Your puppy is perfectly fine. Not all puppies are going to be smoochy little things.

[miss2]

I had to go away for a few days and left pup with a very knowledgeable doggie friend to look after for me.

She continued the method that I had started with pup that nothing is free and my friend treating her all the time. Upon picking her up I was shocked to see my little aloof pup following my friend around, coming when called, sitting and dropping. Everything she did she worked for a treat which is fine with me.

Whilst She said she didn’t get any affection from her but she never once ran away from them...

When I arrived I was down on the ground calling her, on her level happy to see her. She RAN towards me! Smiling and running straight into my arms for a cuddle, it was amazing. It only lasted 1 minute and then she went straight to my friend looking for treats. I took over the treating and she payed attention to me for a little bit then all of a sudden ears back, tail between the legs and running and trying to hide behind the fridge just to get away from me.....

She wouldn’t come out for me but when my friend called her she ran straight out. My friend couldn’t believe this as she hadn’t once tried to run away from her.

I think it’s just me and hubby she hates..