Autism Assist Dog Has Brought Confidence and Calm Over the Years

It was half his lifetime ago when Logan was paired with Autism Assist Dog Gypsy. Now a 14-year-old eighth grader, Logan was only days away from his seventh birthday when he certified with the black and tan German Shepherd mix dog that Can Do Canines rescued. 

As Logan’s dad, Aaron, explains, “It’s been amazing for these seven years to watch their relationship grow and change.” He adds, “She quickly caught on to the nuances of Logan. It was like she seamlessly just kind of knew what it was that he needed, and yeah, it’s been awesome.” 

Like so many kids with autism, Logan had a tendency to bolt as a child. Aaron remembers numerous scary moments when Logan would dart away from them and sometimes get lost in crowds. As an Autism Assist Dog, Gypsy was trained for these situations. Aaron explains, “We were always tethered as a train, the three of us. There were plenty of times when Logan was younger … when they first became a team, that he would still try to take off. I'm also attached to the other end, but [Gypsy] would lay down and he wouldn't be able to go. He was just stuck. And then he came back and she would give him kisses and you know, we'd be able to move on.”

Over the years, Logan adjusted his thinking. “He was able to transition to just holding onto the handle,” says Aaron. “He holds onto that and he's never attempted even as he's gotten older to once take off. So it evolved where he kind of just knew, ‘Okay, here's what I do now.’ That was the beauty of Gypsy. It helped him to be able to kind of break that bolting tendency. He all of a sudden had his attention focused.”

Refocusing Logan with kisses is something Gypsy offers in other situations too. Aaron says her sweet nature helps whenever Logan is getting overstimulated. “As soon as she goes up and starts kissing him, you can see the tension just ease and he can start to calm down at that point rather quickly. He just melts.” 

That de-escalation of anxiety has been especially important at medical appointments. Aaron recalls when the dentist used to have to clamp Logan’s mouth open for procedures. “It was really a traumatic thing.” However, “From the very first time [Gypsy] came along on an appointment, it totally changed.” Logan walked in, introduced Gypsy, had her sit next to him, and opened his mouth. “He is supremely confident because she’s been by his side,” Aaron shares. And it’s a good thing, since orthodontist appointments have been added to the mix for teenage Logan’s braces. 

While the family decided not to have Gypsy go to school with Logan, Aaron states, “She’s very much a part of all of the routines.” She rides in the car to drop off and pick up Logan from school, and although she usually sleeps on the floor in Logan’s room, “she definitely puts him to bed every night.” Plus, a boy and his dog like their playtime. “There’s a lot of fetch that happens with Gypsy’s different balls and toys,” Aaron says. “They have such a bond.”

Aaron and the rest of the family know the bond cannot last forever, and he gets emotional when thinking about how much service their 9 ½-year-old assistance dog has left. He reflects on their journey, saying, “You're watching this dog who's just a couple years old and this kid who's just a little dude. And then seeing them grow together. Now Logan's as tall as me and Gypsy has white hairs all on her face. And it's just wild, you know, that how fast it's gone and how they've grown together, and seeing that is really fun.”

Watching his older brother plan to go to college next year, Logan wants that for himself too. He is active in theater, and Aaron credits Logan’s impressive memory with how easily he learns lines and choreography. Considering the confidence and strength that Gypsy has given him, anything is possible. Says Aaron, “I believe the time when he was 6, 7, 8, 9 years old was when it was so critical that Gypsy was there with him, because it made it so he's able to be where he is right now. He's learned so much from Gypsy. He's been able to grow so much because of having her next to him.”

When Aaron and his wife, Kimberly, were interviewed just after Logan and Gypsy were certified in 2017, Kimberly said of Gypsy, “She is making an impact that could affect his whole life.” 

That’s exactly what has happened even in these seven years.