Read-To-Dogs Programs Increasingly Popular

The search for the perfect tutor may just end with your neighbor's dog.

More children across the country are partaking in programs and events that allow them to read to canines. The Arlington Central Library in Virginia has a new bimonthly program called Paws to Read that lets children read out loud to dogs.

"The benefit of the dogs is they're truly a nonjudgmental audience," Arlington Central Librarian Julia Karell told the Washington Examiner. "They're loving and accepting. If the kids mess up a word, the dogs don't care."

Programs like Paws to Read aren't new, but have sprouted across the country over the last year with research from the University of California, Davis showing that children do perform better if they read to dogs.

Many of the canines are therapy dogs, so that they are trained not to be aggressive and therefore safe to work with children. The dogs that one Iowa City program uses are trained by an organization that also runs the reading program.

And not only are the kids improving, but the canines are having a good time, too.

"The dogs seem to enjoy it," Robert Dettery of Montgomery, Pa. told the Montgomery News.

Comments

[Gale Glassner Twersky]

11:02 PM on 07/18/2011

As a teacher, educator and hypnotherapist, this article has great meaning. The dogs are not testing the children on their reading skills. It's all about having fun and sharing with a recipient who is the epitome of unconditional love. Yes, some children thrive in competition. Some children arrive at school with high self-esteem. Yet children are fragile in a way adults are not. Children under 12 years of age accept what adults (authority figures), and even what other children may say, as though it is the complete truth. Thus a simple comment from a teacher about the child making mistakes when reading out loud, may give the child a faulty perception that he/she is not good at reading.Once this belief is automatically instilled (or downloaded) into the child's subconscious programming, the child will lose self-confidence. It likely means the child will continue to make mistakes because that poor performance behavior is now part of his/her self-image. This "reading to the dogs program" would be beneficial for all elementary schools. Dogs love you no matter what...a lesson for all of us! Part of loving learning is feeling loved, without judgment, while participating.

[Susan Marlowe CPA]

05:32 PM on 07/18/2011

I love this idea! Children can have such a great affinity for pets. The kids love it, the dogs love it. There is no downside.

[Spike5]

07:38 AM on 07/13/2011

Great program. But my sons didn't need any encouragement to love going to the library. They were there every week starting when they were infants. And now it's my grandson's favorite outing. But since he's learning to read, perhaps he can practice reading the books he checks out to Spike puppy at home.

[Johnny Fruckles]

08:30 PM on 07/12/2011

in atlanta, they've been doing it wrong: the dogs are reading to the kids

[Gneirre]

04:36 PM on 07/12/2011

This is actually a great program. They have it here in NC and my daughters love it!

[nofriendofrepublicans]

04:29 PM on 07/12/2011

Will be replacing high paid teachers in your child's class room soon. ;)~

[robiform]

04:10 PM on 07/12/2011

At the library where I volunteer, a beautiful golden retriever named Tirna comes to the library with her human companion every Saturday morning to "read" with young children. It's so enjoyable to watch the kids interact with the dog, and vice versa!

These great programs encourage children to read, as well as educate them on dogs and how to interact with them!

[Gneirre]

04:38 PM on 07/12/2011

Exactly! My daughters love it. They can't get to the library fast enough, thereby......getting them in the library, holding their interest, their checking out more books, and expanding their vocabulary. No one should be against this program.

[Hlynn]

12:48 PM on 07/12/2011

I love this idea! We didn't have the official program in our school, but we had a dog come with a teacher every day and it was wonderful how that dog helped the students. If a student was upset about something at home, just petting the dog would help. Good behavior of our most challenging students would earn taking a walk with the dog or giving the dog a treat, which was more effective in helping the student change behavior than anything else we had done.

There are many accounts of how animals help people in distress, from small children to those who are elderly. We have a nursing home in our city with animals and the residents love to be with the animals and that helps them with their health and loneliness.

I volunteer in the summer at a day camp where animals are a big part of the activities. Children who have been abused learn to be gentle with, and experience gentleness from, the animals.