A possible reason Aspies are good with animals

[Ste11aeres]

Cesar Millan said in Cesar Millan's Short Guide to a Happy Dog, that humans greet each other in a certain way. He mentioned the way two friends who'd been apart a while would approach each other...perk up, maybe run towards each other meet with a hug, show teeth (smiling).
He said humans make lots of eye contact, face each other, make vocal sounds.

He said if a dog approached another dog this way, he'd be asking for a fight...

It occurred to me...these human body language rules are all things that come naturally to NTs. But us Aspies probably feel uncomfortable with a lot of this stuff, even though we might learn it out of necessity. When I last saw my best friend, I stared at the ground as he slowly walked towards me. There was no smiling between us.
I wonder if our natural Aspie body language is better understood by animals than is the body language that is more natural to NTs.

 

[Sev]

That is actually really interesting, as for myself, I know I connect a lot more with cats than I do with people, so thanks heaps for sharing. Its definitely given me something to ponder about.

 

[Spinosaurus kin]

Sounds pretty convincing.
I also think it is to do with how easy they are to understand compared to people.

 

[Archer36]

I guess that is a valid theory worth exploring ...

But I personally think it should stay a theory as long as there is no evidence of this. Because i know tons of NT that are really good with animals, also know aspies that are good with animals ... Some NT, like Cesar, are more than excellent with animals.

Perhaps some aspies just find it easier to deal with animals because they are simpler to understand, leaving them with a feeling that they are "good" with them, because they are very bad with humans.

But that is my own theory.

 

[Ste11aeres]

I guess that is a valid theory worth exploring ...

But I personally think it should stay a theory as long as there is no evidence of this. Because i know tons of NT that are really good with animals, also know aspies that are good with animals ... Some NT, like Cesar, are more than excellent with animals.

Perhaps some aspies just find it easier to deal with animals because they are simpler to understand, leaving them with a feeling that they are "good" with them, because they are very bad with humans.

But that is my own theory.

Yeah, I don't mean to overgeneralize; and the initial post is intended more as an exploration than as a statement.
This kind of thing, like so many things, is something that depends on the individual person. It's also something that can be learned (Cesar Millan says that he is a trainer of humans)

 

[Turk]

Actually Stella is right on this one. Dogs in particular, sense mostly on a totally different level. Although they use visual ques as well, they can sense our mental state without it. There is a direct connection between an owners emotional state and that of the dog. It is the reason that special care dogs can preempt an oncoming epilepsy attack or other life threatening conditions before they happen

 

[nosouvenirs]

Dogs have such a keen sense of smell that they're able to detect quite a number of things just by odor, including the person's current mental state. I'll never forget the time one of the head nurses of the short stay unit here brought in the service dog who lives with her. The dog is certified for its Level 1 in dealing with people who have all kinds of emotional issues. We were all on the unit because we had utterly failed to cope with our lives and/or were having breakdowns, etc, but it was only me for whom the dog came up and put her two paws on my arm for a short time. Apparently this is her way of comforting someone she senses is in an extra-large amount of distress. I've always known I am a very emotional person and have more intense reactions than your average Joe, but the fact that the dog knew this automatically, and tried to comfort me... it was amazing.

 

[tlc]

I must be the exception, I love nature but I'm not good with animals (as in pets). I'm not mean to them, I don't hate them, they just irritate me to no end, the smells, the noise (especially the barking), the constant shaking and jumping and ripping through the house and knocking things over. People say having animals reduces a person's stress level, well they raise mine.

But you're right they can sense how you feel. One experience with a pit bull, with everybody else at the house the dog was nice and was playful, they brought the dog to the end of the leash and said let him smell you, so I (actually very) calmly did that, the dog smelled me, paused for 2 seconds then jumped up and took a chunk out of my chest.

On top of that I'm very allergic to cats and since my ex left with all the animals I can actually breathe great without using inhalers.

It's tough because EVERYBODY I know has dogs or cats or wants them. Another reason I prefer to be alone.

 

[Ste11aeres]

I must be the exception, I love nature but I'm not good with animals (as in pets). I'm not mean to them, I don't hate them, they just irritate me to no end, the smells, the noise (especially the barking), the constant shaking and jumping and ripping through the house and knocking things over. People say having animals reduces a person's stress level, well they raise mine.

But you're right they can sense how you feel. One experience with a pit bull, with everybody else at the house the dog was nice and was playful, they brought the dog to the end of the leash and said let him smell you, so I (actually very) calmly did that, the dog smelled me, paused for 2 seconds then jumped up and took a chunk out of my chest.

On top of that I'm very allergic to cats and since my ex left with all the animals I can actually breathe great without using inhalers.

It's tough because EVERYBODY I know has dogs or cats or wants them. Another reason I prefer off alone.

Not everyone who has an animal is a good owner. If someone is a really good dog owner, the dog is quiet and well-behaved. In my opinion, a crazy-acting dog means that the owner probably doesn't know what they're doing, or encouraged that behavior when the dog was a puppy (because back then it was cute) etc.

 

[Critterlover]

I have ALWAYS been passionate about animals, especially dogs. I just feel so good when I'm around them and feel a special connection, I prefer them to people.
I have had (still have) many pets over the years and they all gravitate towards me more than to other members of the family. My mom always called me Dr. Doolittle because they just seem to "talk" to me.
Why? I'm not sure but I just think Aspies are wired a little differently and animals can sense this. Maybe we're a little more spiritual? I know I appreciate nature and can just sit outside and watch an ant hill or a honey bee on a flower for ages. My husband thinks I'm weird because he just doesn't have this same connection.... I'm SO glad I do though!

 

[gouldgrl]

Cesar Millan said in Cesar Millan's Short Guide to a Happy Dog, that humans greet each other in a certain way. He mentioned the way two friends who'd been apart a while would approach each other...perk up, maybe run towards each other meet with a hug, show teeth (smiling).
He said humans make lots of eye contact, face each other, make vocal sounds.

He said if a dog approached another dog this way, he'd be asking for a fight...

It occurred to me...these human body language rules are all things that come naturally to NTs. But us Aspies probably feel uncomfortable with a lot of this stuff, even though we might learn it out of necessity. When I last saw my best friend, I stared at the ground as he slowly walked towards me. There was no smiling between us.
I wonder if our natural Aspie body language is better understood by animals than is the body language that is more natural to NTs.

I appreciate your willingness to explore this special connection we have to animals. Lately, I think what I love most about dogs and cats is that they can't talk, and therefore can't ramble on about rubbish.

 

[Autism]

Cesar Millan said in Cesar Millan's Short Guide to a Happy Dog, that humans greet each other in a certain way. He mentioned the way two friends who'd been apart a while would approach each other...perk up, maybe run towards each other meet with a hug, show teeth (smiling).
He said humans make lots of eye contact, face each other, make vocal sounds.

He said if a dog approached another dog this way, he'd be asking for a fight...

It occurred to me...these human body language rules are all things that come naturally to NTs. But us Aspies probably feel uncomfortable with a lot of this stuff, even though we might learn it out of necessity. When I last saw my best friend, I stared at the ground as he slowly walked towards me. There was no smiling between us.
I wonder if our natural Aspie body language is better understood by animals than is the body language that is more natural to NTs.

Very very funny, you unwittingly described NT's with dogs. You are so right, they can not contain themselves, Aspies communicate much differently, going much slower than others much more controlled than others.

I think Autistic people need a lot longer to display behavior that others would display right away.
I find that animals have very distinctive body language and yes I think Aspies do to.

 

[rollerskate]

Animals are more consistent with the meaning behind their body language. They also tend to be more visibly overt with it and they don't reply in facial expressions as much as overall body language. Their body language is transparent in that how they act is how they really feel.

 

[rollerskate]

Very very funny, you unwittingly described NT's with dogs. You are so right, they can not contain themselves, Aspies communicate much differently, going much slower than others much more controlled than others.

I think Autistic people need a lot longer to display behavior that others would display right away.
I find that animals have very distinctive body language and yes I think Aspies do to.

I have to admit, I'm naturally more patient and slow with animals as well as more gentle and observant than I've noticed most people are. I can often coax a wild animal over time to approach me, like right now I have a squirrel buddy that always comes to greet me while I'm having lunch near his tree for a little chat and snack. He will get as close as one foot away from me. I also once had this only partially tamed cat that the vet said must have had bobcat in his ancestry, best pet ever to me, but other people could not stand him because he hated everyone but me, especially if they were male, and was very protective of me. He wasn't really wild or anything, just had certain boundaries I understood but visitors would often cross after being told not to then expect me to discipline and somehow train it out of him, which was impossible. It was pretty simple. Don't touch the cat and let him sniff you out... And if you ever want him to accept you, don't make eye contact until he warms up to you. I often wonder if they would have done the same thing if he was a pit bull.

 

[Sparticus]

I really like this post. Very interesting and I believe, valid questions. I think you are right-animals can sense something about us. Our honesty? Or that we might not be as sneaky or violent as others? Or maybe that many of us have good hearts?

Cesar Millan said in Cesar Millan's Short Guide to a Happy Dog, that humans greet each other in a certain way. He mentioned the way two friends who'd been apart a while would approach each other...perk up, maybe run towards each other meet with a hug, show teeth (smiling).
He said humans make lots of eye contact, face each other, make vocal sounds.

He said if a dog approached another dog this way, he'd be asking for a fight...

It occurred to me...these human body language rules are all things that come naturally to NTs. But us Aspies probably feel uncomfortable with a lot of this stuff, even though we might learn it out of necessity. When I last saw my best friend, I stared at the ground as he slowly walked towards me. There was no smiling between us.
I wonder if our natural Aspie body language is better understood by animals than is the body language that is more natural to NTs.

 

[SammiArielle]

I know i get along with my cat a lot more then i do with people. and i love other animals, however as ive gotten older (strange i know) ive become fearful of most animals people keep as pets, dogs i love, but one in my house im terrifed of when we babysit him, or he just annoys me. i use to love rats and other small animals, but now im scared of them because i dont want to be bitten..

 

[garnetflower13]

I'm loving this thread!

 

[AspieAngel]

I am of the belief that Aspies can better read animals better than they can humans. Humans can hide emotions, and we aren't necessarily able to read our fellow man as well. Animals give it to you straight: they flatten their ears when they are angry or upset, and they prick them forward when they are happy or excited. Animals don't hide how they feel. So, maybe it's just that we can read their body language a lot better, and it gives Aspies and animals a level of understanding of one another. Animals are also intuitive about human emotions. My guinea pig Daybreak would cuddle up next to my head and squeak quietly when I was crying or just plain upset. She loved to waddle up my chest and sit on my shoulder while we watched TV. I think Aspies bond with animals because we don't have to pretend with them; we don't have to try to adopt a socially acceptable view of "normal." They take us as we are and love us all the same.

 

[Granta_Omega]

Simple hypothesis: Those that suck with people are often better with animals.