Discover the magic of reading with a furry friend through a Read to a Therapy Dog program! Specially trained therapy dogs and their handlers create a calm, nonjudgmental space where children can build confidence and improve literacy skills. By reading aloud to a gentle, attentive dog, young readers gain fluency and enjoy a supportive experience that makes books come alive. We’re proud of the incredible impact our therapy dog teams make—one wag and one word at a time!

Request a Therapy Dog Visit at Your Location

If you would like our therapy dogs to visit your location for a Read to a Therapy Dog program, please submit a request here Therapy Dog Inquiry

Reading with Mia, Wilson & Thor!

Mia, Wilson & Thor are just a few of our therapy dogs who truly enjoy being read to. Scroll through our gallery to see some of the locations you can find them at.

Positive experiences while reading with therapy dog Thor

  • A first-grade student did not like to read out loud at all at home. We told the child that if he could read 3 words out loud, Thor would perform some tricks for the child and their parent. The student read the 3 words, and after Thor performed some tricks, the child sat down and read the entire book out loud to Thor.
  • Two homeschool students, both under the age of seven, came to work on their reading skills with Thor. As one student read their book while sitting on a cushion on the floor, the other student would pet Thor. It became a very nice session as each student chose to read more pages so that they could take another turn petting Thor.
  •  A second-grade student was reading a book to Thor, while a kindergartener who does not like to read was listening and petting Thor. The kindergartener decided he wanted to read a book to Thor. When the kindergartener got stuck on a word, the other student helped out, having a positive effect on both students.

Research Supports the Benefits of reading to therapy dogs

Research consistently shows that reading to therapy dogs helps young children by improving their reading attitudes, building confidence, enhancing fluency, and reducing anxiety. Multiple peer-reviewed studies—from pilot trials to controlled experiments—support these benefits. Here are a couple references:
Tufts University Study: Reading to Therapy Dogs Improves Literacy Attitudes in Second-Grade Students