It happens to all kinds of people...
When A Dog Walks into the room something good happens to people...a manifestation of the human-canine bond
For therapy dog owners, this inherent ability of their dog to touch the heart of others is the foundation for all that they do.
They notice that their dog brings peace or solace or joy to the old, the sick, and the infirm.
And they notice the way kids are affected.
Caroline, a third grade student in the Pages for Preston therapy dog reading program, told her teacher, Julie Hauck, "The dogs calm us down when we pet them so that we can read better.” (the photos on the left are from Julie's classroom).
Thousands of Therapy Reading Dogs
There are now thousands of therapy reading dogs in the USA, Canada, the UK and beyond. And there is a plethora of evidence that when children read to dogs there is not only a substantial improvement in their reading skills, but also in their attitudes toward books and reading.This is particularly true of slow, uncertain or reluctant young readers...so let us make sure that dogs come into their rooms -- at school, the library, the youth center, the shelter, the hospital, the clinic and their homes. Something good will happen.
We currently support therapy reading dog programs in Indiana, Wisconsin, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire,Virginia, Florida and Texas.
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The human canine connection is helping vets in several local programs and, hopefully, will soon become supported as a successful therapy by the federal government. Sharon A. Peters, in an article (for USA Today) entitled, Man's best friend could soon be veteran's best medecine, writes:
"The number of veterans who get rehabilitation and re-entry help from dogs will substantially increase if a bill introduced in the House of Representatives this month becomes law..
The Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act, introduced by Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., proposes a two-pronged approach: Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) would receive instruction in training dogs; the dogs they train would go to disabled vets." To read the rest of this informative article go to:
http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/health/healthcare/2011-01-20-veterantherapy20_ST_N.htm?POE=click-refer
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A Dog walks into your world...
If you read sample chapters of the Planet Of The Dogs Series -- Planet Of The Dogs, Castle In The Mist, Snow Valley Heroes -- on our website:
www.planetofthedogs.net
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A Dog Walks Into the Room...and Kids Read
Kaila, an 11 year old Shetland Shpherd is a 7 year veteran therapy dog. In recent years he has been primarily working with kids. In the words of his owner, Barbara Babakian, here more on the ways that Kaila helps kids...
"After becoming more experienced as a Pet Partner team, I soon realized that the R.E.A.D. program was where Kaila would do her best work. We have been volunteering at Golden Hill Elementary School in Florida, New York, as part of the R.E.A.D. program...She is a very laid back dog...Her nature is very calmingso I'm sure she relaxes the children when they might be struggling with a word..."
The Five Basic Freedoms for Dogs
Nancy Hauser, writing for her Way Cool Dogs blog, has an inquiring, very well informed and compassionate mind as evidenced by the quality of writing and the wide range of relevant subject matter of the articles on the blog. Here is the opening for a recent post...
The basic five freedoms for dogs originated in 1965 with farm animals in Britain. The UK government had proposed that all farm animals should have the right to stretch their limbs, stand up, lie down, turn around and groom themselves. Eventually this was broadened to something a bit more caring for animals in general other than just health. But still, only farm animals were looked at.
But by 1993, Britain’s Farm Animal Welfare Council was changed to the Five Freedoms for Companion Animals in Shelters when it was written by Steve Dale under the ”Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters” :
1. Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition
2. Freedom from discomfort
3. Freedom from pain, injury and disease
4. Freedom to express normal behavior
5. Freedom from fear and distress
She continues this fascinating article, relating the five freedoms to dogs' emotions and intelligence....to read it all visit:
http://www.waycooldogs.com/basic-five-freedoms-for-dogs
Chewie, seen in the photo above, is a rescued dog living on Nancy's Nebraska farm.
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Lost, Strayed or Stolen...
Lynette,on her web site, Fun Times Guide for Dogs, posted (Jan.23) a very informative article on microchips for dogs...why, what's involved, cost and benefits...if you're interested in this hi-tech procedure that finds lost, strayed or stolen canines visit: http://www.dogs.funtimesguide.com
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A Dog walks into a room...
Fear and despair disappear for the kidnapped children in Castle IN The Mist when Sola, the healer lady, secretly brings them a dog... Throughout our books, dogs bring hope and love to people, just as they do in real life...although our stories take place long, long ago, when dog first came down to earth to teach people, the human-canine bond remains the same.
Our Books
All books in the Planet Of The Dogs series can be purchased at your favorite
bookstore or on the internet through Amazon, Barnes & Noble , Powells and others...
For cups, hats, shirts, dog shirts and other gift
items...Visit our store at Cafe Press.
Librarians, teachers, bookstores...order our books directly from Ingram...trade discount, of course.
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Videos... A dog walked into the room and everyone cheered...
See Kate and Gin...I just saw it again...still amazing...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPGUN-WCYxk
Yes, there is a Yelodogie video...see the art of Cayr Ariel Wulff:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26iJnLnjPiw
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Tooting Our Horn...
Planet Of The Dogs and Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale were both former Dogster Dog Eared Book Club books-of-the-month selections.
"Dear God
We dogs can understand human verbal instructions, hand signals, whistles, horns, clickers, beepers, scent IDs, electromagnetic energy fields, and Frisbee flight paths … what exactly do humans understand?" -- Nancy Houser,
A Dog's Conversation with God on Way Cool Dogs blog.
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