Absolutely. My dog Anna was a therapy dog when I worked with autistic children. Our class of kids had varying problems and different illnesses, i.e. autism, CP, blind, etc. The right dog can have a wonderful effect on socialization, learning empathy for others, and positive behavior reenforcement as well. Of course, this isn't limited to dogs. Horses can mimic the natural gait of a disabled person and improve balance and posture, among other things.

Yes! If the child accepts it well, it will work.

Dogs for sure are more predictable than people. The child feels safe and the dog helps "the child and family to increase their mobility and socialization".

Check "Autism Service Dogs of America - Special Dogs Helping Special Kids": http://autismservicedogsofamerica.com/

It's hard to say, because the range and variability of affliction, among people with autism, is quite broad. However, a common characteristic, among those so afflicted, is an aversion to unpredictability. Generally, dogs, as are all animals, are unpredictable.

I have experience working for a services provider whose specialty is autism. Some clients, with whom I had worked, would make very wide paths around dogs. Other clients seemed to be too self focused to pay the dogs much attention, as long as the dogs weren't too rambunctious.

However, that's not to say that there aren't those who are attracted to the spirits of dogs. Intuitively, I'm thinking that the ideal dogs are those with quiet natures, who seem to be very attuned to the spirits of human beings. One breed that comes to mind is the malamute, although I'm sure there are others.

I have always been a cat person, but, when I'm attuned to dogs, they often come and lay down against my back when I'm sitting on the grass. This is the type of comforting energy that I'm referring to. Very basically, however, the dog and the child would have to be matched with care, if the child were open to it. If a good match were made, then, yes, I think the child would benefit greatly from having such a companion.

Respectfully,
Shin