About story dogs

Story Dogs Australia is inspired by a successful program in the United States called Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.). R.E.A.D. was launched in 1999 in Utah as the first comprehensive literacy program built around the idea of children and young adolescents reading aloud to dogs.

Story Dogs has taken this concept and expanded it across the east coast, pairing up well-behaved dogs with children in need of literacy support. Before a dog can become a story dog, they go through a behavior assessment by me or another assessor,  I evaluate the dogs and handlers for key skills like walking calmly, responding to basic cues, handling unexpected noises and situations, and their ability to settle with someone reading next to them. 

When children read to a dog, they experience an increase in their focus, literacy skills, and confidence. The non-judgmental nature of dogs creates a relaxed, supportive environment that encourages children to try harder and have fun while reading. The unconditional love and acceptance that dogs provide is truly magical and helps children to open up and enjoy the reading experience." It's pretty remarkable how effective this program is for improving literacy!