This story originally ran in December 2002

Can dogs help kids read better?

Arron Sues and Maggie

Everyone knows a dog can be a kid's best friend. But, can dogs help you learn how to read better?

Two schools in metro St. Louis are testing this unusual idea for assisting kids in improving their ability to read. So far, it seems to be working.

And, in January, the St. Louis County Library will start a pilot project in two branch libraries.

Since last August, a group of "struggling readers" at Fairmount Elementary School in St. Charles County have been reading to dogs. The dogs belong to members of the local "Love on a Leash" chapter.

The dogs and their owner/handlers come to the school once a week.

Each kid selects books that matchs his or her reading level. Then, they pair with a dog for one-on-one reading sessions. Each kid gets to read for up to 20 minutes.

Arron Sues is a 2nd grader at Fairmount. During a recent reading session, he got to read to Maggie, a cocker spaniel owned by teacher Mary Jo Linneman. Arron said, "I like dogs and they help me read better."

During his reading session, Arron told his teacher, "I want to read a big story so I won't run out of time so quick."

In addition to being a teacher at Fairmount, Linneman is a member of the local "Love on a Leash" group. The organization has been bringing dogs to Fairmount for six years to help with special education children. Animals are often used in therapy for special needs kids.

But, it wasn't until last August the school decided to try the "reading to dogs" idea. Linneman said the reading students aren't in special education. "They are just struggling readers who hadn't been receiving any special reading instruction," she said.

So far, each kid has improved his or her reading one level. Kids in the program are from six to 11 years of age.

The idea of using dogs to help with reading came from an group in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Casey Owens and Buddy

Another "Love on a Leash" member is Karen Green, who teaches at Litzinger School in Ladue. That school began its own "reading to dogs" experiment last month.

Bianca Roberts is the youth services manager for the county libraries. She said kids will get dogs on a first-come-first-served basis. Kids get to pick their own books to read.

Then, each will read to dog assigned just to them, she said.

At Fairmount school, another kid who reads to a dog is second-grader Casey Owens. In a recent session, he read to Buddy, a golden receiver owned by Michele Swanson.

Casey said, "We get to read to the dog and the dog likes it."

He said he'd like to have a dog for a pet but can't because he lives in an apartment. "But, we're going to move into a house," he said. Then, he plans to ask his parents for a dog.

Michaela Hensley and Buddy

Michaela Hensley is another second grader who got to read to Buddy during a recent session. She said she thought Buddy liked "the pup book" the best when she was reading.

Ms. Linneman said all of the kids who have been reading to dogs this semester are reading better. The explanation is that kids appreciate reading to someone who isn't always criticizing their reading ability.

The "Love on a Leash" dogs are specially trained to pay attention to the kids. They come to class with a special blue neckerchief. Each handler also has a special blue vest.

Ms. Linneman said, "When a dog get its neckerchief on, it knows it's going to school and it's time to work."

Buddy's handler, Michelle Swanson, has made special blankets so kids and dogs can sit together on the floor when they read.