Let the journey begin...

In less than a week, we are welcoming a new family member into our home. Dante is an almost-8-week old Groodle pup, and he will have a very important role. He will be a very special friend and helper to 9-year-old Grace who has Asperger's Syndrome, an Autism Spectrum Disorder. From his first day home, he will begin his training as an Autism Assistance Dog.

Grace chose the name Dante from a book she read, Wonder Dogs: True stories of extraordinary canines by Ben Holt. Dante means 'steadfast and enduring', very appropriate for a dog that will become Grace's best friend, and the first real friend she'll ever have.

Children with autism find it very difficult to relate to people and make friends. Socially, they are very awkward. For them, a dog can be much easier to connect with, and it can be a very strong emotional connection. An Autism Assistance Dog can provide unconditional love and emotional support, build the child's self-confidence, and where an autistic child can often not bear human touch, a dog can provide much loved soft, furry cuddles. In addition, an assistance dog is a protective anchor to prevent the child from potential physical harm.

The waiting list with organisations who raise and train assistance dogs is far too long and, at almost 10 years of age, Grace has been waiting long enough. It was time to be proactive. Our journey with our new DIY assistance dog is about to begin and we are so very grateful for those who are getting behind us to help us on our way.