February 16, 2025, 9:18 am | Read time: 9 minutes
Everyone is probably familiar with assistance dogs these days. Most people associate them with guide dogs for the blind or therapy dogs for the elderly. However, specially trained assistance dogs can also be used for people with autism and help them with the challenges of everyday life. Just like the mini Aussie dog Finchen, who lives with her owner Nicole. They share their adventurous everyday life on social media.
Finchen is not only an autism assistance dog but has also become a real internet star. Her owner, Nicole Baselt, who identifies as an influencer, shares insights on Instagram and similar platforms about life as an autistic individual with a specially trained autism assistance dog. Her “Gluexpfoten” clips are clicked thousands of times online. PETBOOK spoke to Nicole about her life with Finchen.
“Finchen helps me as an autistic person not to experience everyday life as a threat”
PETBOOK: You have an autism assistance dog, Finchen. What must an autism assistance dog be able to do?
Nicole Baselt: “Finchen helps me as an autistic person not to experience everyday life outside my familiar surroundings or routine as a threat or excessively demanding. Because as an autistic person, I live a life without a stimulus filter. Not having a stimulus filter means perceiving all stimuli with equal intensity. Imagine you are sitting in a meeting, and the ticking of the clock on the wall is just as loud as the voice of the person giving the presentation. Then there are 30 other people in the room—quite a challenge. Or you have a severe migraine – at that time, everything is too loud, too bright, and simply too much. That’s everyday life for me.
That’s why Finchen calms me down; she gives me a sense of security and interrupts or alleviates feelings of being overwhelmed by focusing on me.”
What exactly are her tasks?
“Her tasks include timely recognition of sensory overloads. For example, if we are in a shopping center, she can guide me to the edge, to the exit, or to a seat if I become disoriented. Finchen notices these sensory overloads through changes in my smell because I release stress hormones or through changes in my behavior, which she has been specially trained to indicate, for example, by nudging, scratching, paw touching, jumping on, licking, standing still, bringing treats or barking. This allows me to take early countermeasures. With this kind of warning, she also draws my focus back to her so that I am less aware of the stimulus.”
“As a certified assistance dog, Finchen is a medical aid, just like a wheelchair”
That sounds really impressive …
“Finchen can also get me out of so-called ‘shutdowns.’ When I get really overwhelmed, I withdraw inwardly to protect myself from the overwhelming world. Sometimes, I can no longer move or communicate, but I can hear almost everything – which causes me great anxiety. She has learned to block other people from me without hindering them, which gives me a lot of security. Another important part of her work is DPT (Deep Pressure Therapy): This involves her putting her body weight on my legs, which calms my nervous system and helps me to relax again more quickly.
That’s why it’s important that Finchen is not distracted in her job so that she can carry out these tasks. She wears her service vest when we’re out so that others recognize she’s on duty. It also gives us a few special rights: she is allowed to accompany me wherever street shoes are permitted, e.g., to the supermarket or the doctor – places where a normal pet dog would not be allowed. As a certified assistance dog, she is considered a medical aid, akin to a wheelchair. And you wouldn’t tell a wheelchair user to leave their wheelchair outside the door.”
“Finchen was born on the day my dad went into the hospital, where he died of cancer three days later”
What makes an autism assistance dog different from an “ordinary” assistance dog?
“In my opinion, the biggest difference is that the focus with autism assistance dogs is on emotions. They provide security and structure and help you to feel accepted for who you are. As an autistic person, I constantly come up against my communication limits in everyday life – often with the feeling that I can’t do anything right and that I’m being a pushover. Finchen, however, accepts me just as I am.
How has Finchen changed your life?
“Finchen was born on the day my dad went into hospital, where he died of cancer three days later. Those three days were a rollercoaster ride between fear, sadness, worry, and great joy because I knew I was going to have such great support. When she was able to move in with me three months later, she not only helped me to overcome my grief. She has helped me establish new daily routines, giving me a reason to step outside and occasionally close my laptop.
I’ve also learned how to structure my training with her so that we both celebrate successes and have a lot of fun. This greatly boosts self-confidence and teaches one to trust their instincts and take breaks when needed.
“Then I could end up in hospital or need several days to recover …”
How did you come to make videos about your everyday life?
“Most people only know about guide dogs. Very few people are aware of the different areas of application (epilepsy, diabetes, PTSD, etc.). When we are approached by strangers in everyday life, I sometimes don’t have the time or energy to answer all the questions, depending on the situation. That’s why it made the most sense for me to create videos. That way, I can simply hand out a small card with the link to our channel in everyday life. That way, I can pass on knowledge and take care of my energy at the same time.”
You said in a video that you usually give people the wrong name when they ask for Finchen’s name. Why is that?
“Yes, that’s right. Finchen is sometimes called ‘Nala’. Because when strangers ask me for her name, their first reaction is that they would call her – 99 percent of the time. But that distracts Finchen from her job. She would then no longer be able to warn me if I didn’t realize that the situation was getting too much for me. In the worst-case scenario, it could lead to a shutdown where I can no longer speak or move and panic. Then I could end up in hospital and/or need several days to recover.”
“After all, one wouldn’t simply push a wheelchair or inquire about someone’s complete medical history uninvited”
Were there any challenges you faced with your assistance dog at the beginning?
“Apart from the puppy phase, when she tried to nibble on everything and turned my apartment upside down? Yes, especially setting boundaries with other people. People who just wanted to stroke her. People who commented on our training without asking and knew everything better. Or strangers who saw the blanket and asked me unpleasant questions about my ‘disability.’ After all, you wouldn’t just push a wheelchair without asking first. Or ask a wheelchair user about their entire medical history without even knowing the person.”
How does your dog react to the different social situations you find yourself in?
“Finchen is trained to be calm by my side in a variety of situations. My main aim is for her not to attract attention – unless I’m not feeling well. Then she lets me know so that we can get outside help.”
What are the most frequently asked questions about your dog?
“Half of one of Finchen’s eyes is blue – that’s why I’m often asked if she’s blind because that’s the most noticeable thing next to the blanket. Otherwise, of course, questions about her job and her tasks. I’m also asked how she was trained and whether she’s meant for me or someone else.”
“Thanks to Finchen, I was able to make so many great contacts with other people, which was so difficult for me before”
What was the most memorable moment you experienced with Finchen?
“I can’t pin it down to a single moment. It’s the sum of the experiences and adventures that have allowed us to grow together as a team. The backbone that has grown shows us that we are allowed to be here. For example, we have the right to go to a supermarket as a team where dogs are not allowed. Or the pure moment of pride and happiness when we passed our assistance dog test.”
How has your dog changed your perspective on social interactions and relationships?
“By 180 degrees. Thanks to Finchen, I’ve been able to make so many great connections with other people, which was so difficult for me before. Many of them have become friends. We have a whole WhatsApp group with dog buddies – there’s always someone to play with or go for a walk in the woods with. Having a stable social network where I can also ask for help is incredibly valuable.”
Dog psychologist Dog Psychologist Would Advise Everyone to Spend the Bight in Nature with Their Dog
PETBOOK Interview Owner of Deaf Dog: “Her Deafness Has Many Advantages”
PETBOOK interview Lukas Hintersteiner Became an Award-Winning Petfluencer Through a Bet with Pupils
You Really Stand Out with an Autism Assistance Dog
What advice would you give to other people with autism who are considering getting an assistance dog?
“Being out and about with an assistance dog means that you stand out a lot. One must be cognizant of this from the outset. It gets you into situations that you wouldn’t have thought possible beforehand. But there are also numerous heartwarming moments and instances that bring laughter. Above all, however, they give you strength. All in all, it is a journey that you have to embark on – a journey in which you can learn an incredible amount and grow personally.
However, you should definitely prepare well and do a lot of research: Where can I find a good organization or trainer? Which breed is suitable for me? Can I overcome my own fears and obstacles? How do I deal with training not going well or being refused entry? How do I manage the financing? What do I do if I can’t look after my dog due to illness?
A valuable tip is to thoroughly familiarize oneself with the subject, follow other human-canine teams on social media, and understand the challenges they encounter. Then think carefully about whether you can do it – because it also has to be fair for the future assistance dog. If everything fits, it can be a wonderful experience and a help that you would never have dared to dream of before. Including a personality crash course and lots of fluff.”