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Toby and Sox: The Heartwarming Tale of a Little Boy with Autism and a Dog in a Million
The heartwarming tale of a little boy with autism and a dog in a million.
When severely autistic Toby Turner was excluded from school for the third time for hitting and kicking his teachers, his family hit rock bottom. Toby felt so upset by his own aggression, he told his parents they would be better off without him.
Terrified, Toby's mum gave up her job as a nursery nurse to teach him at home while they found a place for him in a special school. Eventually, the only way the family could get Toby out of the house was by giving him headphones, sunglasses and a cap to block out the world.
After a difficult few years, the family was thrown a lifeline by the charity Dogs for the Disabled, which introduced Toby to Sox. The adorable three-year-old Labrador/Golden Retriever was trained by the charity to help children with autism. Within two weeks, he had turned Toby's life around. Together, as a family unit, and with Sox by their side, the Turners have learned to enjoy life again.
When severely autistic Toby Turner was excluded from school for the third time for hitting and kicking his teachers, his family hit rock bottom. Toby felt so upset by his own aggression, he told his parents they would be better off without him.
Terrified, Toby's mum gave up her job as a nursery nurse to teach him at home while they found a place for him in a special school. Eventually, the only way the family could get Toby out of the house was by giving him headphones, sunglasses and a cap to block out the world.
After a difficult few years, the family was thrown a lifeline by the charity Dogs for the Disabled, which introduced Toby to Sox. The adorable three-year-old Labrador/Golden Retriever was trained by the charity to help children with autism. Within two weeks, he had turned Toby's life around. Together, as a family unit, and with Sox by their side, the Turners have learned to enjoy life again.
- GenresAnimals
256 pages, Paperback
Published August 25, 2016
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52 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 16, 2018
The Star rating is for the writing some of which is rather repetitive and needed a good editors guiding hand. But if you want to know what it might be like to try and parent a child on the Autistic spectrum look not further. 3/4 of the book describes the effect on the family and what it is like living in a society with little compassion, though I suspect more and more awareness. It's not till you are in close contact that you really begin to understand the impact this condition has on the person and their family. I couldn't wait for the dog to arrive because I knew Sox was going to be just amazing. It was a little disappointing it took so long to get there and then the descriptions of what he did were brief and repetitive, again. It would have been useful to have the perspective and a little more explanation from the dogs angle (as much as you could ever get) from the organisation. It felt rather like - having got this dog, who helped Toby to feel safe and belong in such a strange world, Vicky started writing about it and that the space she was given, and the flow of her pen, ended up in a cathartic blast of what it had all been like before Sox... and who can blame her.
April 1, 2018
I had expected the dog to join them much earlier in the story than 3/4 of the way through. It was crucial to the story to understand how difficult life was for Toby and the entire family, but having lived through similar situations with my own Aspie son it got to be a bit much for me. Once Sox finally became theirs, it was awesome to see how life opened up for them all, especially Toby. It is hard to see your child struggle and I know how excited Vikky felt when Toby was finally able to make friends with peers. Not something to be taken for granted with children on the Autism Spectrum. The final 1/4 of the book does a great job of showing the transformation and joy Sox brought to their lives. Dogs truly embody unconditional love, and this book made me realize how beneficial "Autism dogs" can be. I hope this story builds more support for these assistance dog programs. An uplifting finish to a story that began with great difficulty.
March 12, 2020
If I could have given a six I would have. Well written story of the daily struggle for a family with a child with SEN. I loved it
November 9, 2020
This beautiful, heartwarming story of a boy and a dog that one must read, if you consider yourself one of those fortunate humans whose lives has been touched by a dog’s paws.
Toby and Sox is a story of a picture perfect family, the Turners, who are going through life like all of us.
Neil and Vikky’s son Toby, is different from the rest of their 3 bright children.
To be fair, they never held it against him and massive props to them on that front. They were fair but allowed Toby to be himself and never asked him to fit in.
Toby is an exceptionally smart kid but he suffers from autism and his diagnosis doesn’t happen for quiet a while.
But when he gets excluded from school,for supposed bad behavior for the third time, you can’t help but feel the frustration, hurt and disappointment in his parents.
Enter Sox, a year and a half old, Big Black Labrador, retriever cross, who is a trained service dog, who immediately connects with Toby and thus begins a beautiful journey which typifies why dogs are a man’s best friend.
Sox becomes an integral member of the Turner family and Toby’s best friend, and helps change Toby’s life around.
Disclosing their adventures would mean providing spoilers and that would be doing wrong to Toby’s and Sox is story.
His autism is no longer a handicap with Sox by his side, Toby is like any six year old. Happy, playful and friendly.
Like someone close to me once said, via a drawing of theirs, even people with disabilities don’t want you to see them with that.
They want you to see their abilities :)
Unfortunately, Toby’s autism persists till date but like all of us, who are lucky enough to have a furry companion, Toby knows exactly what he needs to make himself feel better when confronted by a bad day.
He sits beside Sox and pets him and that brings him ultimate peace.
It brings Toby clarity.
It’s no longer the end of the world for him when a day goes wrong, and leaves him with the comfort that tomorrow is a new day!
Toby and Sox is a story of a picture perfect family, the Turners, who are going through life like all of us.
Neil and Vikky’s son Toby, is different from the rest of their 3 bright children.
To be fair, they never held it against him and massive props to them on that front. They were fair but allowed Toby to be himself and never asked him to fit in.
Toby is an exceptionally smart kid but he suffers from autism and his diagnosis doesn’t happen for quiet a while.
But when he gets excluded from school,for supposed bad behavior for the third time, you can’t help but feel the frustration, hurt and disappointment in his parents.
Enter Sox, a year and a half old, Big Black Labrador, retriever cross, who is a trained service dog, who immediately connects with Toby and thus begins a beautiful journey which typifies why dogs are a man’s best friend.
Sox becomes an integral member of the Turner family and Toby’s best friend, and helps change Toby’s life around.
Disclosing their adventures would mean providing spoilers and that would be doing wrong to Toby’s and Sox is story.
His autism is no longer a handicap with Sox by his side, Toby is like any six year old. Happy, playful and friendly.
Like someone close to me once said, via a drawing of theirs, even people with disabilities don’t want you to see them with that.
They want you to see their abilities :)
Unfortunately, Toby’s autism persists till date but like all of us, who are lucky enough to have a furry companion, Toby knows exactly what he needs to make himself feel better when confronted by a bad day.
He sits beside Sox and pets him and that brings him ultimate peace.
It brings Toby clarity.
It’s no longer the end of the world for him when a day goes wrong, and leaves him with the comfort that tomorrow is a new day!
October 7, 2019
What I know about autism would not fill a postcard so I was intrigued by this book and especially the effect of an assistance dog. This is a very honest book describing, in painful detail at times, the challenges of having an autistic child in the family. There is no sense of “why us” in the book but rather the strength and determination of a quite remarkable mother supported by her husband. Anyone who has raised children will know of challenges they bring along with the joy, love and happiness. Add an autistic child into the mix and the challenge is multiplied and I have only admiration for this family. Then enter Sox, an assistance dog trained to work with autistic children and the change begins. It seems odd to talk about a cure for autism because of the implications of changing the character of the child but there is no doubt that Sox proved to be an amazing “treatment” of the symptoms giving young Toby the opportunity to engage in life more fully.
February 20, 2024
As a parent of two children with autism this book really hit home. It was almost as though I was reading about my own experiences at times and also made me shed several tears. If anyone wants to understand what a friend or family member may be going through I would recommend this book, even if you are a parent going through the journey yourself. There is so much that goes on behind closed doors that no one sees or appreciates. Great book.
April 25, 2018
This was a really good book to read. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
December 16, 2018
Brilliant book
What a great author and well written. An easy read but very informative. And I felt good at the end
What a great author and well written. An easy read but very informative. And I felt good at the end
March 26, 2017
Inspiring and heartwarming story. People should read it as many of us don't know what is autisme and the stigma around us is still strong.
February 4, 2017
Eye opening with regards to living with autism. Reaffirms the great job Dogs for Good does. Uplifting and inspiring.
April 19, 2017
Beautifully written. A heartwarming true story about one boy and a special dog that saved him and his family.
April 24, 2017
Crikey what a task! I didn't realise autism could be such a burden to others. An excellent advert for 'Dogs for good'
June 6, 2018
Really delightful book that does exactly what it says in the tin - I have no hesitations as recommending this for a good read.
Written with comic honesty and touching moments of both the human and animal kind this is easily accessible and well worth a read especially if you have an interest in autism or assistance dogs.
Written with comic honesty and touching moments of both the human and animal kind this is easily accessible and well worth a read especially if you have an interest in autism or assistance dogs.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews