You have probably spotted autism service dogs while out and about. Sometimes you may see a dog tethered or attached by a leash or other device to a child. It may look cute to see a young child with his/her dog, but very often these dogs are keeping a child from running off into danger and helping a child move forward through difficult locations such as doors. Disturbing a dog during this time can cause a tremendous difficulty for the parent and child, so you should not interfere or question the parent as to why his/her child and dog are tethered together. The dog is there to keep the child safe, not to entertain the general public. The dog may also help prevent meltdowns and assist the child in controlling his/her emotions, feelings and behaviors.
