A dog's life

Gabriel Stewart leaned forward and was literally nose to nose with Banjo. "I touched his wet, black nose," the 4-year-old announced excitedly.

Banjo just looked dolefully back down his long nose at the boy. A 3-year-old basset hound, Banjo is a registered therapy dog with Helping Paws, and he came to the Springdale Public Library last week for a special reading program. Children picked books from the library's shelves and then read them aloud to Banjo and Wiggles, a 6-year-old chocolate lab, also a therapy dog.

In the Kibbles and Books program, parents sign up for 30-minute sessions, giving each child some individual reading time with a dog.

After reading one story to Wiggles, Gabriel ran from place to place in the room. He is learning to deal with sensory impulses, his mother Kristie Stewart said. "He's looking for things to touch and do," she said. "He's calmest when he's reading to dogs. It's calming to him to touch a dog."

Banjo also enjoyed the reading session with Gabriel. He got his long ears rubbed, his belly scratched, and at one point, he simply leaned his long body against the entire length of the boy's leg and rested his head on Gabriel's foot.

Despite the yawns and pleading looks for food common among basset hounds, Gabriel knew Banjo was listening.

"Betause he's so talm (calm)," Gabriel said. "He's not barking. He's listening with his dog ears."

During the session, Mom helped Gabriel read, pointing out letters and similar words and repeating words when the 4-year-old struggled.

Parents at the library that night reported their children's reading skills were advanced beyond their grade levels and that the kids just liked to read to the dogs.

"Our goal is confidence," said Erin Renollet, a children's services assistant at the library and Banjo's owner.

Studies show

Reading to a dog makes a child feel "extra-special," said Deborah Lewis, principal of Grimes Elementary School in Rogers, echoing Renollet about confidence.

"If we had a child that needed a little TLC, we would get that child in a quiet corner with Rob," she said. "It was a confidence builder. When they read to Rob, they came to believe in themselves.

"The teachers always had them pick a book they had already read, so they would have success with Rob."

Rob, an older Gordon setter therapy dog, came to the school with Jane Bass, a retired teacher, Lewis said.

Educators know reading aloud helps a child build reading skills, but many parents hold multiple jobs or don't speak English, she said. "The child has no one to read to. For the most part, (reading to Rob) is a needed extension of the whole thing."

"When a child is a struggling reader, he has a fear of judgment," explained Christy Smith, a special education supervisor with Springdale Public Schools. "The other kids know who the poor readers are.

"But when you put them on the floor on a blanket with a dog, the dog is nonjudgmental. The struggling student can read better and more fluently."

And when kids can hear themselves read out loud, it helps them develop fluency because they can hear what's going wrong, Smith said.

Smith shared a May 2014 study by Marieanna C. le Roux, Leslie Swartz and Estelle Swart that noted positive differences in struggling readers who read aloud to a dog, compared to reading to an adult, a teddy bear, themselves or no intervention.

"These students were willing to read out loud, their reading confidence was better, and their attitudes toward dogs had improved," the researchers concluded. "Students who have difficulty in reading -- like those in our program -- were more likely to participate in reading to dogs, which could build their self-confidence. The dogs accepted the students and liked the attention. It does not matter if the students are good or bad readers, if their clothes are clean or dirty, or if the students are clean or not."

The study focused on reading rate, accuracy and comprehension of third-grade students in a low socio-economic community. The authors saw improvement in each and noted that an increased reading rate is an indicator of improvement in other aspects of reading, such as word recognition, vocabulary and comprehension.

For much of her education career, Smith taught history at the secondary level.

"A high school student that struggles never wants to read," she said. "We would popcorn read, and you knew who not to call on. The kids don't want to be embarrassed in front of their friends."

But when reading one on one with a dog, the adult handler can point out mistakes in a nonthreatening way. Lewis said she especially appreciated when the former kindergarten teacher used her own teaching skills to provide extra scaffolding for the youngest of readers.

"Some kids are real shy at first, but when they see other kids reading, they want to read, too," said Rebecca Willhite, children's library director, about the program at Rogers Public Library. "It's a casual atmosphere with no pressure. Plus, whoever reads gets a paper bone and gets to draw for a free book."

"Reading difficulties may have a serious impact on the short-term as well as the long-term emotional development and learning experiences of young students while students who struggle to read become anxious and make more mistakes," the researchers said, noting previous research. "Their stress levels are raised, they may be teased by classmates, and they usually have higher rates of absenteeism and late completion of school assignments,"

The study reported difference in behavior when animals -- especially dogs -- have been used in classrooms and educational settings: Students paid more attention, and motivation improved. Boys displayed less aggressive and hyperactive behaviors. Students had more empathy.

Students also "learn about animals, animal training and discipline, nurturance, responsible pet ownership and kindness toward animals, and they develop their ability to have and show empathy," the report reads.

And the authors confirm the popular theory that blood pressure is lowered by petting and merely being in the presence of a dog.

Dogs at work

Therapy dogs have been trained and tested for health, safety and appropriate skills and temperament, according to the website of Dogs on Call, which calls their reading program Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ). Plus they are covered by their organization with liability insurance, Renollet said.

Renollet met Banjo for the first time in Springdale's Murphy Park when the breeder brought him to her family. "He ran from our family straight to a baby in a stroller and stuck his nose in," she recalled. "Mom was hesitant, but I knew in that moment he loves kids and would make a great therapy dog."

In addition to the training, a therapy dog must enjoy its work, said Jody Otwell, who Saturday read aloud a book she has written about therapy dogs. She has worked with therapy dogs for five years.

Requirements of various organizations vary, she noted, but to train as a therapy dog, the animal must be at least 1 year old and must have lived with his family for one year, Otwell said.

Otwell brought Henry, a 3-year-old white poodle, to the Springdale Public Library as part of his training, trying to build his confidence. Henry lived in a puppy mill, and when he was rescued, was very scared of people, she said.

Angela Rodriguez petted Henry, noting he was soft. She admitted to being afraid of dogs, but she said she liked Henry because he was quiet.

"The thing about Henry is, he's shy, too," Otwell told the girl.

At the Rogers library, children read to Scout, an English mastiff that's "as big as a bear," Willhite said. "But he's very gentle, very relaxed. He usually falls asleep."

In addition to the reading help, Scout, owned by Wendy Teach, helps children learn about dogs. "A few kids come in, and they are afraid of dogs," Willhite said. "But they see that he's a giant dog and so gentle."

Among the programs at Bentonville Public Library, children learn how to approach a new dog. Zaida, an English mastiff, and her owner Miss Trish represent the Yellow Dog Project, educating the public about appropriate contact with dogs.

Programs with therapy dogs are very popular, Willhite said. But they depend on volunteers' time and willingness.

Renollet said her volunteers are eager. Most libraries said their volunteers came to them.

"When you put in the work, you are making a commitment, and you're passionate about it," Renollet said of her own therapy dog training.

Laurinda Joenks can be reached by email at [email protected].

NAN Our Town on 01/22/2015