Therapy Dog Program for Children
Children reading to dogs.. What better way to strengthen the bond between children and dogs while enhancing their reading abilities. Children who may have low self esteem, a lack of confidence and unsure of reading aloud will often open up in the presence of a quiet listening dog.
Caring Canines ‘Reading 2 Rover’ program provides calm, quiet ‘listening dogs’ which children can read to on a ‘one to one’ basis, or maybe two children per dog. These special dogs MUST be quiet, calm and enjoy the company of children close to them, with some students even leaning on the dogs while reading.
After a few months of visits with a new class, I was told that immediately the student’s interest heightened in wanting to ‘read because ‘special dogs’ were coming to listen to their stories. Soon the students were picking their favorite story to read days in advance of our anticipated visit; planning ahead with which dog they want to share their reading adventure. The only stipulation is they must ‘read out loud. We, as handlers, just sit nearby and make sure our dogs are quiet and respectful while the students read to them.
When we started with this class the students were mostly using ‘picture books’ and when the dogs arrived they knew in order to be part of the ‘Reading 2 Rover’ group they must read out loud. This opened a whole new world for them by encouraging them to speak the written words of a story.
It’s as simple as children bonding with dogs over a shared story in a low stress environment. Reading skills improve, self esteem boosts, and a sense of trust encourages them to open up verbally, all resulting in a sense of pride in their accomplishments.
Listening dogs offer a way of accepting without judgment. They don’t care how a child dresses or what they say, whether they read fast or slow, or miss-read the word, they’re forgiving and uncomplicated. They lay quietly next to the child absorbing everything they hear, all the while encouraging them to read aloud. Some students who were not eager to read in the beginning have brought a friend to class and they take turns reading to each dog. Before they know it a half an hour has gone by, they’ve read consistently for thirty minutes and they don’t want to stop to say good-bye. They’ve made bonds with their favorite dog and know them each by name. We’re informed that they absorb more in this half hour of reading than any other day of the week.
We’ve been told their interaction with each other and their patience in class has greatly improved, and the only deduction the teacher can come up with at such a sudden change, is that they have a new twist in their reading curriculum …. “Listening Dogs”.
Our Therapy Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, breeds and ages, all having something in common of great personalities and lots of love to share. Our ‘Reading 2 Rover’ program is a great way to teach children how to interact with dogs in a positive manner. The importance of Therapy Dogs with children is how they can help struggling children come out of their shell to realize the warmth, encouragement and security that dogs can provide. Dogs don’t judge, laugh, criticize or correct them, they just accept unconditionally what they’re hearing and offer strength and love in return while boosting self esteem.
The Reading 2 Rover group is actually an extension of the Caring Canines’ Therapy Dog Program and the requirements to participate are the same.
Requirements in addition to Caring Canines
· The AKC Advanced Canine Good Citizen (ACGC) Test or Urban Canine Good Citizen Test (CGCU) must be passed and documentation provided to the Caring Canines Evaluator.
· 15 total visits are required for Reading 2 Rover candidates; 10 for CC certification followed by 5 additional visits, not senior center visits.
. The Reading 2 Rover candidate must attend one SLODOG scheduled visit to a potential school site without their dog to experience the environment their dog will be exposed to and make an honest decision if their dog will be comfortable as a Reading 2 Rover therapy dog.
· Reading 2 Rover candidates must make a minimum of 5 (five) mentored visits in the Elementary classroom setting before being certified.
· The handler must confirm their visit schedule by the 5th of each month for the following month to the Reading 2 Rover site visit coordinator.
· A list of teams available as substitutes will be maintained by the R2R liaison.
· The Reading 2 Rover Liaison and/or Caring Canines Chairperson has the authority to make the final decision on the teams’ approval for continued participation in the Reading 2 Rover program.
For more information and package to join Caring Canines see Links.
