Children Read To Dogs To Improve Skills, Gain Confidence

They say a dog is a man’s best friend but for some children, a dog can be the perfect reading partner.

Every week, the Kids Read to Dogs program at the brings in two trained therapy dogs to listen while children read out loud. The program allows children to practice their reading skills and gain confidence.

The dogs are brought in from the PAWSitive Therapy Troupe, a volunteer-based program that trains and provides therapy dogs for patients and students in various programs.

Karen Click, a volunteer who started the program at the library, said the dogs who go through training make good house pets, a characteristic she wanted in her pet dog Cinnamon, a friendly, yet reserved, 3-year-old sable-colored Shetland sheepdog who has done two years of therapy dog work.

“I think it’s fun to be able to share polite, well-trained dogs with people,” Click said. “It really gets kids excited about reading.”

One of these children is 7-year-old Ian Cullen, who loves to read books about travel. He picked up the books We Go! Planes and Jets before entering the room to read to Cinnamon.

“It’s so fun because you just read and the dogs just listen to your reading,” he said, after reading to Cinnamon for 15 minutes. “He’s nice, and he lets you pet him as well. I even got to give him a cookie!” 

While Cullen read to Cinnamon, his grandmother, Rita Sisko, patiently waited outside. According to Sisko, Cullen has been attending the program for three years to improve his oral reading, as well as his confidence. Sisko said he now enjoys reading out loud and sometimes reads to his stuffed animals at home.

“It’s a wonderful experience for all children,” she said. “The more we can get them to read out loud the better, and we’re all for that.”

The program runs for an hour every Friday, with four sessions at 15 minutes each. Two children can read to two available dogs, totaling eight children every week.

Cinnamon was again a patient listener for Abby Benco, a special needs child. 

“Having her hear her voice in a different environment other than home is motivating,” Lisa Benco said. “It has to be something she looks forward to and motivation is important for special needs.”

Benco said she credited the work of the dogs' trainers to Abby's success, as well. 

"They are very friendly, patient, and compassionate toward Abby and are key to Abby's success with the program," she said. 

When Abby finished reading to Cinnamon, she thanked him and waved goodbye to the sheepdog, who was still lying on the floor waiting for Click to wrap up the session. 

Click said it's rewarding to volunteer with her dog this way. During the sessions, she sits beside Cinnamon and listens as the children read.

“Our dogs will sit down and listen, and it’s fun to be the adult behind it,” she said. “I’m almost like the puppeteer and the kids get into the magic behind that. It’s a neat way to do a good thing.”