R.E.A.D. program - Page 2

I used to do this with my rottie. I also trained her some performance tricks, like barking and mumbling as per hand-single in answer to questions, as well as to other Lassie-tricks like tail-wagging, nodding "yes" or shaking her head "no." Target-training them to touch a page with their nose is a great one. At the end, we'd talk about the books, she'd do some tricks, then take a bow.

I think rotties make great "talking dogs," for their natural tendancy to grumble without barking. Kids loved it. She was the only dog in the county with her own library card *lol* Having the dog "talk" to the kids afterwards really got them involved.


"What did you think of that story, Gertrude?"

"Woof!"

"And what was your favorite part?"

"Ruff-ruff-ruff, hrngh!" *tail wag!*

JC Carroll, What a great idea! Our Shiloh Shepherd is very vocal, so I am going to start working with him on that, so when the time comes for us to get involved in a reading program he will be ready to "voice" his approval :)

i'd love for angus to learn something like that. he can touch a book sometimes on command, but he's got such a big freaking nose, i don't want him to mess us a book!  he 's a super sweet beast, but not always the brightest. since my son was little, i've really enjoyed getting kids and books together, but he's in his last year of high school and i haven't been "involved" for a few years. nothing more embarrassing than mom hanging around. but, now, with angus i can get back into it and not subject my son to such a horror!!
angus isn't real vocal, i don't even know how i'd go about teaching him to bark. o well. 

angusmom,  I saw your comment about the picture of the dogs and kids at school. It would be a great idea to make teeshirts or daybag handouts or whatever based on that image. That would be cool! Great to hear you so enthusiastic about the program. 

MMax, I did a little surfing and your talented friend, if there had been IQ ratings for famous minds in the past, would be on par with Leonardo DiVinci!

beetree, i love the pic of the dogs at the "school" table - it would be funny to use it. a friend, a really good artist named Lee Mitchelson, did a really great custom oil painting that i use for a "prop". it's of angus, sitting in a big comfy chair, reading a book "Paws That Heal" by Angus to a group of dogs. its really cute and Lee is a wonderful artist.

a small update: angus had his second time at the library and he was great! he already had "requests". and it is so wonderful to see a big gsd (88lbs) laying with his big freaking head in a little girls' lap while she reads a story to him. life can be sooooo good!! it's so sweet to see a little kid, reading a page from a book, stopping to pet and caress your dog, look at you, and say "this is what i always do, read a page then pet". like i said, life can be soooooo good! this weekend, we get to be part of a parade in upland. angus has been in a few parades already, so this should be fun. if anybody out there is close to upland, ca, come on down! angus will be the oversize gsd - i'm just the body at the end of the leash. he'll probably be looking for "daddy" - the husband says he'll come to watch. that could be interesting - angus is fine when its just him & me, but add any other family into the mix and he wants us all together in one spot. cross your fingers for us....

I had two of my previous Shepherds certified as therapy dogs.  I had to research to find a group that did not make schutzhund trained dogs ineligible.

One of the things I found to make them look less intimidating was putting ruffled collars on them.  It seemed to make them more accessible.

Michele

That is super.  It was something I was discussing the other day.  When I tutored, reading was one of the more difficult subjects for some kids.

pharaoh, love the collars! i just bought angus a new antler-hat that velcroes under his chin and has ear holes for his big ears. poor sweet dog! the other two, especially the stinky dinky mutt, try to bite his antlers and "bring him down". he has a collar too. the kids will love it. and my big sweet baboo will just have to suck it up for the parade lol. (god love him, he looks like a dork!)

We have a similar program in Monument Colorado.  I did two AKC Canine Good Citizen evauluations for dogs wanting to enter the program.  I will believe in this program so much that I will do FREE evauluations for anyone interested in my area. Just PM me