The word xenith is equated to “the highest point.” However one of main responsibilities Autism Assist Dog Xenith has with his forever person, Gideon, is to keep emotional highs in check. Joe, 11-year-old Gideon’s father, explained, “The biggest problem we’ve been dealing with has been emotional regulation.”
Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder as a toddler, Gideon sometimes feels frustrated when trying to interact with people. Joe explained, “Social interaction is a real stressor for him because he doesn’t intuitively understand the rules, but desperately wants to interact, so our hope was that the dog would also provide an opportunity to interact and a topic for engaging with other people.”
That hope has become a reality, as the yellow Lab’s presence has brought newfound confidence and calmness to Gideon’s temperament. “He’s so much better able to regulate and to end that meltdown and get back in control, I think specifically because of Xenith,” said Joe.
This fall, when Gideon was about to enter middle school, Joe commented, “We are trusting the dog to provide that emotional support, which will help [Gideon] to hold things together during the day, so he doesn’t come home drained and can focus on his schoolwork better.” He also explained that although Gideon typically doesn’t tend to bolt away from the safety of his family, “he wanders and lags,” according to Joe. He adds, “We’re expecting [Xenith] to provide direction and motivation [for them] going from class to class.”
Canine motivation already seems to be working as the pair go on walks. “We’ve really noticed that when he’s out walking Xenith, he moves at what feels like double the speed, without even really noticing.”
Wherever they are walking together, Gideon and Xenith demonstrate self-assuredness that is a direct reflection of the actions that contributed to Xenith’s development. Joe commended all those who had a hand in that process, saying, ““We see the work they put in, in action every day with Xenith.”
That recognition by their family has created a pay-it-forward mentality. “We recognize fully how incredible it is that we can get the dog free of charge, and we are so grateful. We definitely would not have had the means of getting Xenith on our own. The fact that we could get him free of charge to us made all the difference in the world, and we are so excited for the opportunities we are going to get to fundraise and to try and reach out to people who know and love Gideon to help try and get them included in making this possible for future clients.”
Even though those future clients won’t also get a dog whose name means “high point,” every Can Do Canine is trained to bring higher freedom, independence and peace of mind to those they serve, just as Xenith has done for Gideon.
Thank you to all those who made this partnership possible:
Great Start Home: Melinda Derus
Puppy Raiser: The Toutge Family
Special Thanks: Federal Correctional Institution - Sandstone
You: Thank you for your donations!
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