The main role of the giant breed dogs used in our program is to provide a living counter-weight that prevents a child from running off unexpectantly and placing themselves at risk.

Our anchoring dogs are trained to brace and lay on the ground to prevent a child from going beyond the length of the tether – usually no more than 6 feet from the adult team member. An analogy might be an anchored boat that is free to drift around in a large circle while in a harbor. Just as the anchor keeps the boat safe from drifting too far and running aground, the tether prevents the child from running away and placing themselves in danger. In turn, this promotes peace of mind for the parent and allows the family to once again enjoy numerous activities that were once deemed too dangerous. These might include grocery shopping, restaurants, the library, swimming lessons, movies, etc.

An autism anchoring service dog promotes safety by preventing the child from running away, managing the risk by limiting the distance they can go from the handler. This fundamental behavior is the basic tenant for all of our anchoring dogs – to hold their ground and seek stability. This helps to keep the child in close proximity to the service dog and the adult handler, reducing the likelihood of accidental harm and providing reassurance to the family during normal outdoor activities.