The Dog Listeners

Got a moment? Great! Then please, have a seat. I've got something wonderful to share with you.

Have you heard about kids-books-n-dogs projects such as the Children Reading to Dogs Program spearheaded by Therapy Dogs International (TDI) and the R.E.A.D. Program pioneered by Intermountain Therapy Animals?

Imagine.

You're young. In school. You are in process of (dun, dun, dunnn...) Learning to Read, Practicing Your Reading Skills, or Trying to Become a Better Reader. Yikes! It can be frustrating. You might feel nervous, as if you're on stage, performing in front of your teacher and your friends. What if you mess up? You might have sweaty palms. It might be hard to get the words out. Argh! What's a kid to do?

Enter fuzzy, four-legged, loving listeners.

Who's going to sit quietly and listen intently, with ears pricked and eyes full of love? Who's going to let you practice the word 'supercalafragalisticexpialidotious' until the cows come home without a word of complaint or a single criticism? Who's going to give you a nod, a smile, and perhaps a little drool as encouragement?

Well, a dog -- that's who!

The canines are the secret ingredient. When you add yeast to flour and water, you get bread. When you add a dog to the reading practice process, you get children who rise to the occassion and look forward to giving their unusual audience a great listening experience. Now how fantastic is that?

Read on to find out more about this winning combination!