Dog days of school at RCS·       

Ben loves a good book, so much so that on Wednesdays you can often find him curled up in a corner of the Pieter B. Coeymans Elementary School library.

He also  loves children. And, he loves to play, pant and even lick.

Ben, in case you haven’t guessed, is a three-year-old dog specially trained as a therapy dog to help students master reading skills.

Twice a week, students at Pieter B. Coeymans Elementary School are visited by Ben and his fellow Therapy Dogs International-trained canines, who help the students by listening and nuzzling as they  read.

Twelve students in grades 1 through 4 take part in the program at RCS, reading teacher Joanne Chase said.

She said the students thrive through the program for “several reasons”, perhaps most importantly because “reading to Ben, Molly, Feather or Daisy is non-threatening. The students don’t have to worry if they make a mistake, don’t know something, or read in an slow, choppy manner.  The dogs are not judging   them, just loving them.” 

“I’ve been very surprised at the progress I have witnessed in the students in such a short period of time,” said dog handler Terryanne Lasinski.

Third grade student Madison William said she loves the program.

“It’s fun reading to a dog,” she said.

Chase said that many students who have reading difficulties also have self esteem issues. 

“The dogs always give the students unconditional love and make them feel special,” Chase said. 

She added that the students – who read one-on-one with the dog for 20-30 minutes depending on the student’s schedule each week, are excited to come to school those days and read to the dogs. First grade students read to the dog for 10 minutes each week. The dogs typically visit Pieter B. Coeymans on Wednesdays and Fridays.

“Any program that makes a child feel good about them self and what they can do is a success,” said Chase.

Canines taking  part in the program must pass a stringent test administered through the American Kennel Club. The exam includes:

• Accepting a friendly stranger

• Sitting politely for petting

• Welcome grooming and permit a stranger to do it.

• Walk on a leash and under control

• Walk through a crowd

• Sit on a command and stay in place

• Come when called

• Behave politely around other dogs.

• Remain confident and in control when faced with distractions
  such as a large book being dropped.

• Be readily available for petting

• Work well around strangers and groups of children

• Can be left with a trusted person

The program started at Pieter B. Coeymans last spring with two dogs and expanded to four dogs this year.

“It’s an unconventional, yet excellent program,” Chase said.