Inspired by an American scheme, a primary school in Staffordshire, England is using "read dogs" — specially trained greyhounds that listen patiently and nonjudgmentally while small children read aloud to them.
Danny received five months of training to become a Read dog. Greyhounds are particularly well-suited because they do not bark and their short coat is less likely to trigger allergies.
Nevett hopes that the scheme, piloted in Kent, will spread. "We've had some success stories, including a girl with Down's Syndrome who really took to the dog and improved her reading," he says. "When Danny goes to sleep I tell the children that he's dreaming about their story."
The dogs who listen to children reading
