Bow Wow Reading Dogs is a program designed to help below grade level readers improve their skills.  Our program is based on the Intermountain Therapy Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.)® program.  The program improves children's reading and communication skills by employing a powerful method: reading to a dog. But not just any dog. R.E.A.D.® dogs are registered therapy animals who volunteer with their owners/handlers as a team, going to schools, libraries and many other settings as reading companions for children.

Bow Wow Reading Dogs Program is Expanding

• Schools - Last year, Bow Wow Buddy teams volunteered on a weekly basis at Cox Elementary and Cedar Park Middle School. For the 2007/08 school year, we are working at Odem Elementary, Lamar Middle School, Cox Elementary, Cypress Elementary and Cedar Park Middle School. We have a waiting list of other schools which would like to utilize our teams.
  
  
• Libraries – Last year we assisted the Bee Caves Library with several special events and dog themed reading days. This year, we are also reading with kids the first Saturday of every month at the Leander Public Library.
  
  
• Youth Programs – Bow Wow Reading Dog teams often assist with the K9 Kids Club and other youth groups. Our team members volunteer their time to provide Dog Safety Seminars for elementary aged children.

Volunteers Needed

Bow Wow Reading Dog teams work with children and must therefore be highly trained and reliable.  All our Bow Wow Reading Dog teams are Delta Pet Partner Registered.  Many are also registered with the Intermountain Therapy R.E.A.D. program.  Austin Dog Alliance also screens each applicant and provides additional training on teaching children to read.

• Dogs must be at least 1 year old and have lived in the owner's home for at least 6 months
  
  
• Dogs should be calm, quiet, attentive, and comfortable in low-key setting
  
  
• Dog should be able to deal with close and unexpected encounters with large groups of rambunctious children
  
  
• Dog should be tolerant of tugging, pulling and exuberant handling
  
  
• Dog should be neutral to presence of toys, crayons, paper, books and lunch in the trash can
  
  
• Dog should be cool around other animals
  
  
• Dog should have solid obedience skills and the willingness to learn new skills

• Must enjoy children
  
  
• Needs to love to read!
  
  
• Must be a competent reader
  
  
• Willingness to get to know the children, understand their challenges and remember small things about them
  
  
• Compassion for and sensitivity to the hesitant and reticent child; patience with over-active children
  
  
• Patience with repetitive reading of the same book
  
  
• The ability to discern age with reading abilities and related activities
  
  
• Flexibility and the ability to "go with the flow"
  **Taken from 2004 Intermountain Therapy Animals, page 36

If you and your dog partner have recently completed the AKC Canine Good Citizen program, you are well on your way to having the training required to pass the Delta Society Pet Partners evaluation.