Dogs help children learn to read

The dogs' reward is to be stroked by the children

A canine charity is using its dogs to help primary school children in a Dorset town learn to read.

The Caring Canines charity says the animals help build pupils' self-confidence, as unlike children they never laugh at stammers or mistakes.

The scheme, where the volunteer dog owner sits with the child and helps when they need it, has begun at St Michael's Primary School, Bournemouth.

Other schools have since expressed interest in the initiative.

'Non judgemental'

Yorkshire terriers, Labradors and Shetland sheepdogs are brought in to the classroom for 45-minute sessions.

The charity is now in talks with Pokesdown Primary school in the town for four "book buddies" as part of an initiative to help children under 12 to improve their literacy skills.

Martin Ford, the teacher who helped introduce the scheme at St Michael's, said the dogs had helped motivate the seven and eight year-olds.

Julie Lankshear, from the charity, said: "Caring Canine dogs are all temperament tested to make sure they are suitable for the kind of work they undertake.

Self esteem

"These are specifically chosen for working with children.

"The scheme works because the dogs are non judgmental and patient which is a comfort to the child.

"They don't laugh at their mistakes or stammers, interfere or push them too hard which raises the child's self esteem, helps their self confidence as well as their communication skills.

"For the dogs, their reward is to be played with and stroked afterwards."

She said the volunteer dog owner sits with the child and assists when they need help or correcting.