 Differentiated effect of the service dog according to the severity of autism in children 
The training and allocation of service dogs for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is gaining in popularity. The documented benefits relate to both physiological and behavioral aspects: stress and anxiety reduction, increased social interactions, and language development among others. However, the associated factors that may have an impact on these benefits have yet to be tested. Objective : The purpose of this study is to explore the differentiated effect of introducing a service dog in families of autistic children between the ages of five and nine, depending on the severity of the ASD-related deficits. Method : Ninety-one parents of children who received a service dog from the Mira Foundation completed a questionnaire on the child’s level of functioning for various domains one month before and three months after their dog was awarded. The results were studied based on the symptoms of the child according to two groups of severity, established using the French version of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) (Schopler et al., 1980). Results : Based on the responses to the questionnaire, children with moderate to severe symptoms of autism appear to benefit more significantly from the presence of the service dog than children with milder symptoms. Discussion : Autism severity could be taken into consideration in the processes of applying for an assistance dog in order to better serve families living with a child with ASD. This article explores the theoretical concepts underlying the effects of the dog in different areas of life in order to contribute to the continuous improvement and the development of best practices in the still innovative field of assistance dogs for young people living with ASD.