A dog has been hired as a staff member at Westport’s library.
Quaker, a three-year-old German Shepherd, will spend most of her time listening to children read.
The dog is part of a national literacy development service that involves children reading to dogs.
Research has shown that reading to dogs improve children’s reading. A University of California study by the School of Veterinary Medicine found that children who read to a dog once a week for 10 weeks, showed a 12 per cent increase in reading fluency.
Dogs were great teachers because they listen carefully and let children go at their own pace which increases relaxation in the reader.
Quaker had to pass a set of tests before being allowed the job. This including being assessed by the dog control officer who watched her interact with the children and adults. He also had to pass a police check.
Quaker has been a regular at the library since she was a pup. He called it his second home.
24 Responses
This is awesome I hope we have this in our school library cause it would help my learning and I love dogs and puppies (dogs are the best) ?
great
this is a really intresting story i really loved this i wish they can do this with all libbers
I love goats,cats,dogs and pidgeons and I hope all of those animals stay at my local library! ?
dat cool
wow
WOW! I never knew that dogs could do that!
this is so weird
So cool
I read to my dog (∩ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)⊃━☆
This is veri coole I hope that they pute it in a library near me I love geman sheperds! ?
woof woof. othough dogs aren’t better than cats there equal
Good for reading, GREAT FOR DOG LOVERS!!!
I really want to read to a dog
Awesome
That is so cool
So cool
wow
Woof, Woof, good dog
I like this dog, it’s good dog
good News!
thats astonishing a dog working at a library WOW
I love the name ?
I love dogs they are so cute I will try reading to my dog . I think it will improve my reading level a lot. I am hoping todo something to do with dogs for my job.
Hilarious
Wonder what it would be like