Should I get my aspie a pet?

Should I get a dog for my aspie child?  My opinion is yes but choose wisely.  Pets can make a great companion and offer responsibility and relaxation for your aspie.  When you choose your pet however make sure that you know what you're looking for and that your child can maintain it.  Cats, fish and turtles may be an option too but a dog in my opinion is by far the best choice.  The younger the dog is when you get it the better it is because you can train them to be what you want them to be.  We have a Boston terrier and he is great with all three kids and very well behaved except sometimes he doesn't understand when we don't want to play ball anymore.  The reason he is great for David is because he is playful when you want him to be, all you have to do is say "ball" and he'll grab his ball and be ready to play but when you are done playing you can tell him to settle down and lay down which he will do, and he loves to be pet which is good for David because although he doesn't like to be touched by other humans he loves the way the dog feels and it calms him down.  Boston terriers are probably the best small dog for your aspie child because they are so gentle, loving and fun whereas many other small dogs are not good with children.  If you can handle a larger dog then Newfoundlands, Akitas and Great Danes are really great, despite their large size they are very gentle and well behaved (extremely large lap dogs) and offer a lot of security and comfort for any child or adult.  Just remember though when you search for a dog or any animal that each breed is meant for different owners so make sure you do your homework and select the best breed that matches your personality.  If you do not want a dog my second choice for a therapy type pet would be a rodent such as a rat or a rabbit as they are very clean animals and very laid back and love to be held.  Remember these are just my opinions and you can make your own decisions however when you ask me "should I get my aspie a pet" my answer will be "YES!!!"