Reading Therapy Dogs

"Paws" to R.E.A.D.!

Please note changes in our R.E.A.D. schedule!

Wednesdays from 5:30-7:00 p.m. through the end of May and including June 5th
No R.E.A.D. on June 12th or July 3rd
Wednesdays June 19-July 31 (except July 3) 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. - Pat & Biscuit will be our R.E.A.D. team
Every other Wednesday evening 5:30-7:00 p.m. (June 26, July 10 & July 24) Judith & Shalee will be our R.E.A.D. team
August…. depends on June/July attendance. If attendance has been low during the summer months, everyone will take a break and start up again in September.

Our R.E.A.D. teams are volunteers and do not get paid. Rarely, emergencies and scheduling conflicts do happen, so please call ahead to confirm scheduling. 748-6160

Why read to a dog?
Learning to read is often less about intellectual limitation than about overcoming fears. Animals are ideal reading companions because they:

* help increase relaxation and lower blood pressure
* listen attentively
* do not judge, laugh or criticize
* allow children to proceed at their own pace
* are less intimidating than peers

When a dog is "listening" fear of failure is removed allowing a child to learn more effectively. The dog's handler is a skilled facilitator who provides subtle support without creating performance pressure in the child.

Results are significant
Participating kids make enormous strides in reading ability with measurable increases in vocabulary, comprehension, and general fluency as a reader. This increase in reading ability goes hand in hand with an improvement in communication skills which in turn foster self-esteem, confidence, and enhanced social skills.

Meet our Reading Therapy Dogs

Meet Desi!

Desi was bred to be a Canine Companion service dog, but failed her "advanced" training. Her handler, Mary Shcultz, says, "We were SO lucky to get her back. They said she has a 'poor work ethic'...she is VERY laid back for a 3.5 year old lab." Desi has been visiting second graders at Jefferson School in Oshkosh at least once a week since 2007. Desi is a registered therapy dog and working toward team membership with *R.E.A.D.. Desi and Mary can also, on occasion, be found at the Oshkosh Public Library.

Meet Biscuit!

Biscuit, a registered therapy dog withTherapy Dogs Inc. [2], may be small, weighing in at only 10 1/2 pounds, but this miniature Dachshund and her handler, Pat Grahn, are anything but small when it comes to their super-sized passion for the *R.E.A.D. program! Together they trained to become *R.E.A.D. team members and subsequently created a thriving *R.E.A.D. program at Murray Park Elementary School in Ripon. Biscuit is a very gentle dog who loves sitting on her blanket listening to a good book with a young reader.

Meet Shalee!

Shalee is a Cardigan Welsh Corgi. Her handler, Judith Michels, says the "other" corgi since most people are familiar with the Pembroke Corgi, the kind the Queen has. Shalee is 3 yrs old and has been working as a Therapy Dog for 2 of those years. Sort of chosen at birth you might say! In addition to being R.E.A.D. certified, she has her AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate.

For more information regarding the *R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) program visit Intermountain Therpay Animals [3] or R.E.A.D. Dogs Minnesota [4].

From the R.E.A.D. Manual:

"All the dogs are a registered, and tested therapy animal. This means they have been screened for skills and temperament, health and cleanliness, good manners and attitude. They are animals who people can't resist approaching; they inspire confidence and trust in the people around them. They are calm and reliable, obedient, and impeccably groomed to be attractive and fun to touch and stroke. They enjoy children, and like curling up on the floor with them to hear stories."

"What about Allergies? Therapy animals are scrupulously clean and well-groomed before each sesson, which helps. Many therapy dogs are treated with a dander remover product and body deodorizer before they volunteer. If a child suffers from severe allergies or asthma, reading with a dog might not be appropriate or enjoyable."