Therapy dog programs help children improve their reading skills. Studies show that children who read to therapy dogs for 15 minutes per week saw increases in reading fluency of 12-30% compared to no increases for control groups. Therapy dogs create a stress-free environment where children are more willing to read aloud. Their presence is calming and reassuring for children, helping to build confidence and social skills. Proper training and certification of therapy dogs and their handlers helps address concerns about allergies or inappropriate behavior.

1. Therapy Dogs Helping
Children to Love Reading

2. Presented by
Harriet Schleifer
Co-founder, Blue Ribbon Therapy Dogs
and
Banquise’s Brandy’s Touch
Foundation Dog

3. Blue Ribbon Therapy Dogs
Non-profit organization founded in November 2013
Co-founders: Lise Hargrave, owner of Blue Ribbon Canine
Centre, a training centre for dogs, and Harriet Schleifer,
therapy dog handler
Mission to share benefits of animal/human bond with the
community
Professional training, certification and supervision of therapy
dog teams
Association of volunteer handlers and their personal pet dogs

4. THE DOG
LISTENS!
Willow reading with a young girl at the
Sunshine Academy in Dollard-des-
Ormeaux

5. THE SCIENCE
Corinne Serra Smith, doctoral dissertation, National-Louis
university, Chicago 2009
152 students in Sit Stay Read programme.
20% increase in oral reading fluency compared to control group
of 98 students
Positive reactions from teachers and students

6. THE SCIENCE
 University of California – Davis Veterinary Medicine Extension, 2010
Study involved groups of third grade students and home-schooled children.
Children read to dogs once a week for 15 minutes for 10 weeks.
Oral Test Reading for Comprehension Test administered before and after to
evaluate reading fluency.
Third graders improved 12%, home-schooled children 30% compared to
control group (0%).

7. Brandy reading with a young boy
at the Côte-St-Luc Library
Photo courtesy of The Gazette

8. READING SKILLS: THE BENEFITS OF
READING DOGS
 EXTRA PRACTICE WITH READING AND ORAL SKILLS
 INCREASED WILLINGNESS TO READ ALOUD
 MOTIVATION TO READ MORE
 ENCOURAGEMENT TO READ MORE DIFFICULT BOOKS
 INCREASE IN READING FLUENCY

9. THE JOY OF
READING TO A
CANINE FRIEND
A young girl shares a special
passage in her book with Brandy.
Photo by Fay Zeira

10. The magic of canine reassurance
The child reaches for the
comforting presence of the
therapy dog while reading a
difficult passage.
Photo by Fay Zeira

11. EMOTIONAL BENEFITS OF
THERAPY DOG PROGRAMMES
 ENJOYABLE AND FUN FOR CHILDREN
 KIDS FEEL SAFE AND REASSURED BY THE DOG’S PRESENCE
 PETTING THE DOG CALMS THE CHILD
 SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AND PRIDE
 INCREASED CONFIDENCE AND FEELING OF LEADERSHIP
 JUDGMENT-FREE ENVIRONMENT

12. SOCIAL BENEFITS OF
INTERACTION WITH
THERAPY DOGS
 COMMUNICATION SKILLS ARE IMPROVED
 CHILDREN LEARN KINDNESS AND EMPATHY
 PARTICIPANTS SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES

13. A FRIENDLY CANINE EAR Photo by Fay Zeira

14. DISSENTERS AND RESPONSES
TO THEIR CONCERNS
QUESTIONS
 “Dogs are dirty and messy.”
 “Dogs cannot behave well
enough to be in a library.”
 “People have allergies”
ANSWERS
 Therapy dogs are groomed
before visits and bathed
frequently. They may sit on a
blanket or mat.
 Therapy dogs are tested to
ensure polite, appropriate
behaviour. Certified dogs carry
an insurance policy.
 Reading dogs work in a clearly
marked, designated area.

15. BLUE RIBBON THERAPY DOGS
OUR PROGRAMME INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:
 Dogs attend obedience training classes
 Dogs and handlers are carefully evaluated
by experienced professional dog trainers
 Successful teams must attend an
orientation session and continuing
education seminars
 References and police checks are required
 A minimum of three supervised visits are
required before the team visits on their
own
 Dogs are identified by vests and handlers
by shirts when visiting. A one-piece soft
martingale leash is required for safety.

16. LIBRARY DOGS.COM