Man�s best friend the dog has �arrived�
at most excellent elementary schools therapy dogs
are used as reading buddies for students
that are learning to read. The benefits
for the student in this program are
social and academic.
The program pioneered by Johns Hopkins
has shown the human body effected by
the simple touch of dogs has better
heart rates & rythms. Overall
the therapy dog program makes for a
much happier body and mind. Teachers
always the concept and method innovators
of society seized on the concept as the
method of happiness. This feel good
innovation has proved invaluable in
recent years with higher attendance
rates and so retention rates for students.
What is behind these higher rates of
attendance and retention then that is
different from standard reading classes.
Therapy dog experts claim that the
dogs themselves are key. Dogs are known
for providing consistent unconditional acceptance,
toleration, vulnerability & love for their playmates,
The therapy dog program reinforces the
therapy dog�s strength by assigning
each reading student the same dog for a trimester
including a weekly visit.
Thus therapy dogs model all the qualities
a student should have to be a friend
steadfastness, acceptance, toleration,
and vulnerability.
More than qualities dogs are
expressive in a physical way
that translates into reading body
language for student�s who lack
social skills. Once a child has
translated a tail talker�s reciprocal joy
with a empathetic ear scratch the
child�s confidence soars with
real social & academic success.
Therapy dogs for social therapy and
or reading therapy are available
in one form and another in every
successful reading & socialization program where
I have ever taught! If you�d like
therapy dog training for your school the
Flanders New Jersey Program
offers training on therapy dogs for schools
around the country called
Therapy Dogs International, Inc.
Here is their link:
http://www.tdi-dog.org/childrenreadingtodogs.htm
As is a tail, so is life: not how long it is, but how
good it is, is what matters.
Seneca translated by a dog fan
Lieber, Alex. A Living Education: Five Things Pets Teach Children.
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/a-living-education-five-things-pets-teach-children/page1.aspx
Lust, W. , Ryan-Haddad, A. M. and Coover, K. (2007, Jul) "Animal Assisted Therapy and its Effects on Medication Usage" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, Disney�s Yacht & Beach Club Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
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