Comments on: Spit on your dog

By: Rhemashope

Rhemashope — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 05:03:13 +0000

Maddy, I am LOVING the Thatcher posts. You always have a way of making me laugh and appreciate the things I would be inclined to lament about (such as uncooperative tongues or echolalia). Thanks to you and your boys and Thatcher.

By: Rhemashope

Rhemashope — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 05:02:57 +0000

Maddy, I am LOVING the Thatcher posts. You have always have a way of making me laugh and appreciate the things I would be inclined to lament about (such as uncooperative tongues or echolalia). Thanks to you and your boys and Thatcher.

By: Tanya @ TeenAutism

Tanya @ TeenAutism — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 06:12:52 +0000

That is fantastic! Interesting, though, how our kids are sometimes more motivated to accommodate animals than people . . .

By: Marita

Marita — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 05:56:09 +0000

That is amazing. I’m really starting to be keen on the idea of a pet.

By: Jayne

Jayne — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:45:14 +0000

Our 2 dogs have taught a fair few social behaviour consequences to my son, too

By: Osh

Osh — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:34:35 +0000

See, I have 5 cats because of Evan!

By: lime

lime — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:55:59 +0000

isn’t it amazing what an animal can bring out of people? i have a friend whose dog is certified as a therapy dog and she has told me a number of stories about the responses her “rusty” has gotten from people.

By: pixiemama

pixiemama — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:00:41 +0000

Fatcher wants you to read “The story of Edgar Sawtelle.”

I am only 1/2 way through it (and am therefore in no place to actually recommend), but each time I see sweet Thatcher and your sweet boys, I am reminded of Edgar and his dogs.

By: Bad mommy

Bad mommy — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:18:58 +0000

You know what I love? As formerly non-verbal communicators, so many autistic kids are very, very keen to communicate with pets – nonverbal communicators that they are. My own children cannot have a dog yet – we’re renters. But we do have one enormous, foul-tempered cat. With whom we mostly communicate in cat-speak, because he does not condescend to speak “people.” I hiss, growl, meow, trill, and purr to him, and he and I entirely understand each other. Poor animal is trained like a dog, actually, and sits for treats among other tricks.

But listening to my children earnestly ask for translation when the cat meows, and watching them patiently explain things to the cat (without the do-overs, echolalia, and other oddities that mar their speech with people), I realize that animals are even more important in the lives of autistic children than they are in the lives of NT children.

Congratulations on integrating Thatcher. I’m certain that he’ll prove a wonderful addition to the sensory and social routine – and the love swirling around the household.

By: furiousBall

furiousBall — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:28:57 +0000

ahh, dogs love that!