Dogs improve the sleeping quality of children with autism

According to a new study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, service dogs significantly improve the sleep quality of children with autism. The study recruited 75 families of children with autism; 39 already had a service dog, and 36 were on a waitlist for a service dog. Researchers had the caregivers fill out a survey on their child’s habits and lifestyle, as well as their own. Comparing the results, they found that “having a service dog was significantly associated with better child sleep behaviors, including better sleep initiation and duration and less sleep anxiety,” wrote Dr. Kerri Rodriguez , the lead author of the study. [https://www.thewildest.com/dog-lifestyle/dogs-improve-sleep-autistic-children-news](https://www.thewildest.com/dog-lifestyle/dogs-improve-sleep-autistic-children-news)