Puppies and ADHD

Ambers Echo

Ambers Echo

Still wittering on
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My Aunt has a litter of puppies and a family with a child with ADHD has asked to buy one. She is being EXCEEDINGLY choosy about who these pups are going to. Obviously it depends on how much the parents supervise the child and are willing to put the pup's needs first, but would this be a no-no for anyone? I think a pet could be very helpful for the child but I am not sure it would always be the best for a pup. Perhaps an older dog or a service dog would be a better option? The pups are wire haired lurchers. I know nothing about the breed.

TIA
 
I come out really high on the scale for ADHD and hyperactivity. I've never taken it any further as by the time I found out I had learnt coping strategies, but I grew up with all sorts of pets and they were all loved and cared for. ADHD doesn't have to manifest as badly behaved, naughty children who have to be drugged into submission, its just those are the ones who make the headlines.
 
Are you diagnosed? Because ADD kids are the dreamy, away with the fairies, type kids. ADHD have the impulsivity and hyperactivity and there is a very strong link beyween ADHD (hyperactive type) and conduct disorders. So yes I will see the more challenging end of ADHD but equally the literature does show those links with behavioural problems.
 
I would probably say it is whether your Aunt has a pup that having watched grow up she thinks would be suitable.
I think these sort of pairings can be extremely beneficial and go really well but the right match for the situation becomes more important and she is likely best placed to judge even if minimal info re. ADHD though hopefully the parents would be able to say what that actually means for their child.

I mostly only know late dx people with ASD too.
 
Perhaps not lurcher type pups to be honest but there are some pups that would cope trouble is the two hyperactives might just drive anyone in the household nuts. But will qualify tht with the only lurcher pups I had much to do with were in rescue and were inclined to run about a lot
 
Ambers Echo said:
As I understand it they are getting a puppy to help him with his ADHD. She was worried about that. But she may be being over cautious. Tbh I think it's impossible to answer as there are too many variables. She needs to meet them all and have a conversation about it I think.
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Absolutely, I think making that judgement on the basis of a diagnosis alone is not likely to be helpful - so in that respect it might not be that dissimilar to how she might approach it with a family where this hadn't come up (i.e. in terms of the sorts of things she would ask about to help decide if it was a good match).
 
How old is the child? How dog savvy are the parents? Has the child had pets (of any type) before?

Personally, I think that there could be breeds more suited to such a support role than a lurcher. Out of interest, what are the breeds behind your aunt's litter?

Secondly, I think that whilst it is a lovely romantic notion to have child and pup growing up together and the pup helping the child, I think it is beholden on those that bring them into this world to allow them a normal puppy hood. That may well include training to be a service dog, of whatever description, in later life but first and foremost they need to learn to be a dog without additional stresses being put on them during their fear periods.

Guide dogs are bred generally from well established lines that are genetically rock solid as far as temperament goes, but even they have their 'fall outs' and are put out in normal homes/to puppy walkers for at least the first 12 months of their life before training commences.
 
Clodagh said:
I can't see a lurcher being ideal as a support dog of any description!
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This 100 per cent. Not a case of what is OK for the child more what would be OK for this particular breed of pup I think. If I were the breeder I would not consider this the right forever home for one of my lurcher pups frankly. Why don't the parents want to invest in a specifically trained support dog? That would make more sense surely?
 
I'd also say there would probably be more suitable breeds/types.

Dogs are extremely susceptible to human emotion and some can find the role of support dog extremely stressful and pressurised, which is why certain people breed specifically for purpose, like Guide Dogs, as mentioned.
The family would be better to pick a horse for the course, IMO.

Whilst it is a very noble vocation, some dogs do not do well with it. There's also environmental factors to consider, if the dog has to accompany the child to appointments, go into medical and educational settings etc.
 
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Would I sell a pup to people who were specifically buying it for that purpose? No probably not. If they were buying it because they wanted a puppy, were going to do right by it as any normal good owner and as an added bonus thought it might be good for their child to spend time around animals at home, then yes, possibly.
In my mind if you are buying an animal specifically as a form of therapy for your child then you should be as sure as you can be that you are getting one suitable for the job, and that means probably something with some specialist training and life experience rather than a puppy
 
ester said:
They are very hard to come by with very long waiting lists, which is why people train their own.
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I can understand that Ester and a very good point. But to be honest if the parents of the child are considering a lurcher pup I respectfully suggest that their choice of pup highlights some ignorance and lack of suitability to train any pup as a support dog, let alone the lurcher type. And also highlights lack of research into the pros and cons of purchasing a puppy to assist their child.
 
Oh, yes, I'm unconvinved by breed chosen but equally I'm not always sure I am in a position to say having never owned a dog in my life but been a lifelong borrower. If I manage to retire I plan to then :).
 
It depends what sort of support dog they need it to be. Mine would all love and be excellent at being emotional support dogs. They wouldn't be happy if there was a child with physical disabilities who made rapid unpredictable movements for example
 
Mrs Jingle said:
I can understand that Ester and a very good point. But to be honest if the parents of the child are considering a lurcher pup I respectfully suggest that their choice of pup highlights some ignorance and lack of suitability to train any pup as a support dog, let alone the lurcher type. And also highlights lack of research into the pros and cons of purchasing a puppy to assist their child.
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Have they said that's their intention though (to train it specifically as a support dog)? Regardless of the ADHD bit, a conversation around the family's hopes/expectations of getting a pup (any pup I imagine) and what attracted them to lurchers in particular would be sensible to do anyway.
 
I don't know - this is all third hand via my Aunt who just emailed me for my advice. I have replied saying I can't answer - she needs to assess the family the way she does any other and take all factors into account in terms of why they want a puppy, their experience, plans for, management of, expectations of etc etc. I have passed a potted summary of your thoughts on as well. Thanks.
 
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