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ocdgirl123
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27 Nov 2010, 11:06 pm

I have heard that people with autism LOVE animals and find them very soothing and calming. I am the opposite. They make me anxious!

Is this even possible? To have autism and not really be an animal lover?

I also find it really, really hard to read animal behavior. Especially dogs. People have been shocked at how poorly I read dog behavior, because I am OK with cat behavior. I would never want to therapeutic horseback riding or have a service dog.

I actually have major sensory issues around dogs barking excessively. This is really my only major sensory issue as well.



buryuntime
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27 Nov 2010, 11:45 pm

I am like you. I've always been afraid of animals. I can not predict their actions and when they touch me, if furry, it hurts me and they can be loud... especially high-pitched birds.

This fear has turned into hate but I'm starting to realize that I don't really hate them; I'm just afraid of them.

I've noticed long exposure to an animal makes you unafraid of that certain one if experiences are not bad... at least to the point of being able to have one in proximity without hiding.



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27 Nov 2010, 11:49 pm

Oh well, we're all different. Personally I love animals more than humans. You should read up about dog behaviour. I have a book on it and it helped me to understand my dog more.


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27 Nov 2010, 11:57 pm

Yes some people feel comfortable around animals and some don't, true also for NTs. My dad was always a little bit afraid of dogs because he got bitten when he was a boy, and my mom didn't like cats, both got used to my animals (I have 2 dogs and 2 cats) tho and as long as they got to know them they were ok around them. It was actually funny how one of my cats used all his charm to get my mother to like him lol and he succeeded. Personally I love animals, I think they are much easier to "read" then humans, I usually know when they may be aggressive, but sometimes it is hard to tell, my rule #1 is to let them come to me, when I was a kid tho I didn't even have the rule #1 lol.

I wouldn't like being around wild animals like lions etc tho, I definitely wouldn't feel safe.


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ocdgirl123
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28 Nov 2010, 12:04 am

pensieve wrote:
Oh well, we're all different. Personally I love animals more than humans. You should read up about dog behaviour. I have a book on it and it helped me to understand my dog more.


I don't really enjoy reading all that much. There aren't good books about it anyway.

I feel comfortable around cats because I have had a cat since I was born.



pensieve
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28 Nov 2010, 12:12 am

ocdgirl123 wrote:
pensieve wrote:
Oh well, we're all different. Personally I love animals more than humans. You should read up about dog behaviour. I have a book on it and it helped me to understand my dog more.


I don't really enjoy reading all that much. There aren't good books about it anyway.

I feel comfortable around cats because I have had a cat since I was born.

You know that for sure? You can say 'nah, don't really want to read about it' but you can't possibly know that all the books written by it are boring. Just saying.
I've had dogs and cats since a young age. I guess that's why I'm so comfortable around them. Except Border Collies. One bit me under the eye when I was young.


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Zen
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28 Nov 2010, 12:18 am

Dogs tend to make me uncomfortable because they are loud, smelly, and overly affectionate. I don't dislike them or fear them. They just make me uncomfortable. For the most part, I love animals though.



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28 Nov 2010, 12:20 am

I like animals a lot and I can find them calming. Animals don't generally make me nervous and they usually like me. Although, constant barking, clawing/meowing, or parrot squawks have a tendency to drive me pretty crazy.



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28 Nov 2010, 7:19 am

I like cats, but that's about all - I'm scared of most other things, especially birds and dogs.


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28 Nov 2010, 7:36 am

I love animals and I'm extremely curious about them. This is usually not a problem with house pets, but I'm the same way around wildlife, too, which has gotten me more than a fair share of bites, scratches, and worse over the years. When I was about 4-5 years old, I used to catch bees because I wanted to see them from up close and I got a kick being stung.



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28 Nov 2010, 8:30 am

-o



Last edited by Simonono on 28 Nov 2010, 8:31 am, edited 1 time in total.

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28 Nov 2010, 8:31 am

I love my cat!! Her name is Tigger, she is a ginger tabby and she is 7



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28 Nov 2010, 9:21 am

Not really, but I relate better to animals then to humans.
Cats are my favourite, I had a good bond with one as a young child.

Amen on the dogs, barking isn't my favourite sound - damn annoying too.


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28 Nov 2010, 12:41 pm

If you don't like being around animals that does not make you a bad person, ocdgirl123. If you prefer cats, stick with them. If a dog comes too close for your liking, just try to stay calm and do not look into its eyes (some dogs might perceive prolonged eye contact as a provocation). Most dogs will sniff your legs and run off again. In general, dogs are friendly towards humans. They sure can be loud, but that's just their nature.

As for an innate love of animals being typical for people on the spectrum, I reckon it is the same as with special interests or set routines. Most of us have them, some don't. I don't think you need to worry about not fitting all of the criteria.


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28 Nov 2010, 1:13 pm

i don't like big noisy animals either. especially dogs. i do like cows though, and they are big. i think of myself as an animal lover though. i especially enjoy small birds that are quiet, like finches, fish are my all time favorites and i have several tanks set up. they are so relaxing to watch and the water fall sound from the filter helps me sleep. i also like that i don't have to deal with them coming near me or messing up the house. they stay in their own spot. i also love hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats are ok too. i have some tanks with stick bugs in them and crickets that i am trying to breed as a food source for my frogs. i had a dog before and i loved him very much but i'll admit i don't really like other peoples dogs especially when they won't stop sniffing me and getting fur on me.



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28 Nov 2010, 1:17 pm

ocdgirl123 wrote:
I have heard that people with autism LOVE animals and find them very soothing and calming. I am the opposite. They make me anxious!

Is this even possible? To have autism and not really be an animal lover?

I also find it really, really hard to read animal behavior. Especially dogs. People have been shocked at how poorly I read dog behavior, because I am OK with cat behavior. I would never want to therapeutic horseback riding or have a service dog.

I actually have major sensory issues around dogs barking excessively. This is really my only major sensory issue as well.


I'm actually nervous around large dogs, however I have very little problem with small dogs and yes they can have loud barks.

Try getting a Chihuahua or another small breed of dog, you might not be intimidated by a breed you can pick up and carry easily.