Reading Therapy Dog

Dudley - Our School Reading Therapy Dog

Meet Dudley our reading therapy dog! We are very lucky to have a visit from Dudley every Friday afternoon. 

Dudley is a trained therapy dog. Research has proven that reading to dogs can help children develop literacy skills and build confidence, through both the calming effect of the dog's presence and the fact that the dog will be listening to the child read without being judgemental or critical. Sometimes children can find it scary and feel anxious or uncomfortable reading in front of others but Dudley helps put the children at ease and they really enjoy his company!

Research has also found that a therapy dog attending school once a week can raise not only the reading standard of the children but help with their self-confidence and behaviour, and with their social and emotional welfare too.

Dudley loves coming in and meeting the children and is very relaxed and friendly. Dudley has even featured in two books that Jo his owner has written!