Being a man's best friend has a whole new meaning, according to a study published in the Journal of Pediatric Nursing.

Gretchen Carlisle, Ph.D, a research fellow at the Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, found that autistic kids can benefit from having a pet dog. Autism or an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.  

"Children with autism spectrum disorders often struggle with interacting with others, which can make it difficult for them to form friendships," Carlisle said.  "Children with autism may especially benefit from interacting with dogs, which can provide unconditional, nonjudgmental love and companionship to the children."

The study interviewed 70 parents of children with autism. Nearly two-thirds of the parents in the study owned dogs and from those families about 94 percent reported their children with autism were bonded to their dogs. Even in families without dogs, 70 percent of parents said their children with autism liked dogs.

"Dogs can help children with autism by acting as a social lubricant," Carlisle said. "For example, children with autism may find it difficult to interact with other neighborhood children. If the children with autism invite their peers to play with their dogs, then the dogs can serve as bridges that help the children with autism communicate with their peers."

Carlisle said that parents who have children with autism should consider their children's sensitivities when choosing a dog. The study only addressed dog ownership among families affected by autism; Carlisle said dogs might not be the best pet for every child with the disorder.

"If you know one child with autism, you know one child with autism," Carlisle said. "Dogs may be best for some families, although other pets such as cats, horses or rabbits might be better suited to other children with autism and their particular sensitivities and interests."

Carlisle added: "Bringing a dog into any family is a big step, but for families of children with autism, getting a dog should be a decision that's taken very seriously."