bow wow reading dogs

Bow Wow Reading Dogs is Austin Dog Alliance’s 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. Bow Wow Reading 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.

Austin Dog Alliance’s Bow Wow Reading Dog Program provides pet therapy teams to local schools and libraries. Teams are currently working with children in Round Rock ISD, Eanes ISD, Georgetown ISD, Jarrell ISD, Austin ISD, and Leander ISD and at the Pflugerville, Round Rock, Wells Branch and Leander Libraries on a regular basis. Our teams have provided many, many special onetime programs throughout the Greater Austin area.

Bow Wow Reading Dogs are:

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

Handlers of Bow Wow Reading Dogs:

• must enjoy children
• Love to read!
• have a willingness to get to know the children, understand their challenges and remember small things about them
• have compassion for and sensitivity to the hesitant and reticent child; patience with over-active children
• possess patience with repetitive reading of the same book
• have the ability to discern age with reading abilities and related activities
• are flexible and have the ability to “go with the flow”
  **Taken from 2004 Intermountain Therapy Animals, page 36

If you are interested in becoming a Bow Wow Reading Dog volunteer, please attend an Austin Dog Alliance
Pet Therapy Seminar or Pet Therapy 6 week Class or complete a volunteer application.

We look forward to hearing from you.

For more information, or to initiate a program at your school or library, please contact us.