Dogs of all sizes and colors are flopped down on the floor at the Borders bookstore in Redmond. Each pooch lies passively while a child sits a few inches away hunched over a book, deciphering words aloud, and pointing out pictures to their patient canine listeners. Every now and then a tail wags in encouragement and a furry head lifts up to hear a little better.
It's Canine Classic day at Redmond Town Center, and doggy-related activities abound, but the most popular booth houses Becky Bishop, co-founder and director of Reading with Rover. With her are at least a dozen pairs of dogs and handlers who have passed her training to become official teams for this unique Northwest literacy program.
Based loosely on a similar program in Utah, Reading with Rover was born in 2001 when Bishop, owner of the Puppy Manners obedience school, teamed with the Bothell library to try it out on local youngsters. The concept of having children read to dogs proved so popular and successful that the program has become part of the regular reading schedules in schools and bookstores throughout Puget Sound.
A Willing Listener Builds Confidence
Teachers and parents are often the first to identify children who might be helped by the Reading with Rover program. Kids' reading problems might stem from something as simple as a lack of confidence or as challenging as autism. Once a dog is assigned, the same Reading with Rover dog and handler will work with that child every week, usually for the length of the school year. Autistic children often show the most dramatic improvement, according to volunteer Mark Nordahl. He describes gratifying experiences, including one incident several years ago when a mother cried with thanks when her child spoke for the first time ever while working with his dog.
Bishop believes the children see the dogs as nonjudgmental, and therefore there is no risk of being embarrassed if they are slow readers. Teachers have also noted side benefits for kids in the program, including decreased absenteeism, improved self-esteem and social interactions, and increased involvement in other school programs. For the kids, reading to the dogs comes down to something pretty basic: "They don't really care if you mess up or not," one boy notes.
One Seattle's Child writer took her own children to a Reading with Rover event, and was greatly impressed by the effect the dogs had on her son's reading focus. Read her review of the experience here.
Dogs Go To School and Pass Tests, Too
Not every Spot, Mick or Fido qualifies for the Reading with Rover program. A dog must first become a Delta Society Pet Partners certified therapy dog and then pass specific behavior training and testing to be sure he will deal calmly with any developmental problems in children.
On the stage in Redmond, program volunteer Pat is putting her spirited boxer-mix, Marcello, through the behavior test demonstration. Marcello has shown that he will accept petting from a friendly stranger, will let another neutral dog pass unheeded, and will not react to unexpected human behavior such as rough petting or yelling. An almost perfect Reading with Rover dog, Marcello has only slipped slightly on one test: the "leave an object" challenge. That yellow tennis ball on the stage is just too much temptation to pass by without a brief, exuberant (and forgivable) pull on the leash to pick it up.
Volunteers Needed – Both Canine and Human
Reading with Rover volunteers visit schools, bookstores, and libraries throughout the Puget Sound region. The program was even included in a Jane Goodall feature, "When Animals Talk," on Animal Planet. More dogs are needed, along with their human partners, to fill the demand to expand the program into more Northwest schools. Bishop and her crew are glad to test family dogs to determine if they are ready to be reading dogs.
Learn more about volunteering with Reading with Rover, or even starting your own program here.
To find out about regular reading times at local bookstores or other public appearances, visit www.readingwithrover.org.
Carol Stripling is a Seattle writer.
