Comments on: Read dogs: nonjudgmental greyhounds that listen to kids reading http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 20 Jun 2013 10:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: reallystrangegirl http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040128 reallystrangegirl Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040128 The Framingham Public Library in Framingham, Massachusetts has a reading to dogs program too. The Framingham Public Library in Framingham, Massachusetts has a reading to dogs program too.

]]> By: halle http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040388 halle Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040388 A non-profit in parts of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania & New Jersey does this, as well: http://www.pawsforpeople.org/ (I'm admittedly biased; my mom's on the board.) A non-profit in parts of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania & New Jersey does this, as well:

http://www.pawsforpeople.org/

(I’m admittedly biased; my mom’s on the board.)

]]> By: chgoliz http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040134 chgoliz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040134 I think the operative word there is "mix". Greyhounds are incredibly calm animals when they're not chasing a small mammal (real or mechanical). I think the operative word there is “mix”. Greyhounds are incredibly calm animals when they’re not chasing a small mammal (real or mechanical).

]]> By: chgoliz http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040135 chgoliz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040135 Greyhound/Husky? OMFG. Words fail me. I can only imagine how those behavioral genes conflicted in every possible way. Greyhound/Husky? OMFG. Words fail me. I can only imagine how those behavioral genes conflicted in every possible way.

]]> By: durfsmurf http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040147 durfsmurf Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040147 I dunno. The way that dog is rolling his eyes... I dunno. The way that dog is rolling his eyes…

]]> By: missamo80 http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040160 missamo80 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040160 I've I've been doing this with my yellow lab for years, as part of the Reading With Rover program in Seattle. Typically we do visits at local bookstores, but there's a group that help out at one of the local schools. The whole program was recently featured on a local newsmagazine show: http://www.king5.com/on-tv/evening-magazine/Reading-with-Rover-116769389.html. I’ve I’ve been doing this with my yellow lab for years, as part of the Reading With Rover program in Seattle. Typically we do visits at local bookstores, but there’s a group that help out at one of the local schools. The whole program was recently featured on a local newsmagazine show: http://www.king5.com/on-tv/evening-magazine/Reading-with-Rover-116769389.html.

]]> By: wolfiesma http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040164 wolfiesma Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040164 Oh, very cool! Anything that removes the judgemental adult from the picture is a good thing. Animal puppets work great toward that end, as well. Kids that would usually prefer someone read to them, but are perfectly capable of doing it themselves, will often give in to a whiney dinosaur or monkey that begs them to read with a beseeching, "Oh, please please please please please!" You end up sounding like an idiot, but, it does get the kids to read. Oh, very cool! Anything that removes the judgemental adult from the picture is a good thing. Animal puppets work great toward that end, as well. Kids that would usually prefer someone read to them, but are perfectly capable of doing it themselves, will often give in to a whiney dinosaur or monkey that begs them to read with a beseeching, “Oh, please please please please please!” You end up sounding like an idiot, but, it does get the kids to read.

]]> By: phisrow http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040166 phisrow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040166 I'm seeing a straight-to-DVD Disney cash-in where an-ultra patient greyhound, a small child whose rich imagination the adult world doesn't understand, and a sarcastic and highly judgemental terrier all learn heartwarming lessons from one another... I’m seeing a straight-to-DVD Disney cash-in where an-ultra patient greyhound, a small child whose rich imagination the adult world doesn’t understand, and a sarcastic and highly judgemental terrier all learn heartwarming lessons from one another…

]]> By: Boba Fett Diop http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040175 Boba Fett Diop Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040175 "Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." “Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.”

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040688 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040688 Love your program name Paws to Read. I have a whippet who is a trained therapy dog and am planning on taking him into the local primary school here in Bellingen, Australia soon. May I use the name of your program too? Cheers Anne Graham Love your program name Paws to Read. I have a whippet who is a trained therapy dog and am planning on taking him into the local primary school here in Bellingen, Australia soon. May I use the name of your program too?

Cheers
Anne Graham

]]> By: Hans Davies http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1041205 Hans Davies Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1041205 "When Danny goes to sleep I tell the children that he's dreaming about their story." That is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard and I'm tearing up and I should just go to sleep... “When Danny goes to sleep I tell the children that he’s dreaming about their story.”

That is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard and I’m tearing up and I should just go to sleep…

]]> By: Rainer http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040705 Rainer Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040705 Damn, what a beautiful thing for these children, I am very happy for them. I bet they walk away feeling great about themselves. These are the small moments that make big steps for better lives. Damn, what a beautiful thing for these children, I am very happy for them. I bet they walk away feeling great about themselves. These are the small moments that make big steps for better lives.

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040455 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040455 katz don't carrrrrrre katz don’t carrrrrrre

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040211 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040211 I am pretty surprised to see all the talk about hyper greyhounds. All the greyhounds I have know have, as other commenters said, pretty much done nothing for 18 hours at a time. True they go nuts when you let them outside, but most of the time they just lay around with about the same expression on their face as the dog in the picture. I guess this may be an age driven phenomenon, all the greyhounds I have know are former races and at least 6 years old........... I am pretty surprised to see all the talk about hyper greyhounds. All the greyhounds I have know have, as other commenters said, pretty much done nothing for 18 hours at a time. True they go nuts when you let them outside, but most of the time they just lay around with about the same expression on their face as the dog in the picture. I guess this may be an age driven phenomenon, all the greyhounds I have know are former races and at least 6 years old………..

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1046869 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1046869 operative word: MIX operative word: MIX

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1044312 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1044312 we have this program in the bay area, dogs are trained through the peninsula humane society. in fact, one of michael vick's former dogs, now named Johnny Justice, is a library dog and a poster child for the program here. :) we have this program in the bay area, dogs are trained through the peninsula humane society. in fact, one of michael vick’s former dogs, now named Johnny Justice, is a library dog and a poster child for the program here. :)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040231 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040231 Greyhounds are the best dogs! Kids love my family's--they constantly think she's a deer. Greyhounds are the best dogs! Kids love my family’s–they constantly think she’s a deer.

]]> By: ackpht http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040743 ackpht Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040743 A child will certainly be less inhibited in the presence of a dog than in the presence of an adult. A child will certainly be less inhibited in the presence of a dog than in the presence of an adult.

]]> By: The Mudshark http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1039981 The Mudshark Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1039981 Now that´s some cute shit right there. Now that´s some cute shit right there.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1039982 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1039982 Adorable! Hopefully the kids with beg their parents to adopt ex-racing greyhounds. There are too many unhomed greyhounds in rescue centres around the country, and they make brilliant pets! Try: http://www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk/ & http://www.tiagreyhounds.org.uk/ Adorable! Hopefully the kids with beg their parents to adopt ex-racing greyhounds. There are too many unhomed greyhounds in rescue centres around the country, and they make brilliant pets!

Try:
http://www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk/
&
http://www.tiagreyhounds.org.uk/

]]> By: technogeek http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040240 technogeek Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040240 A number of ex-stutterers -- including James Earl Jones, if I remember correctly -- have mentioned practicing on animals for much this reason. I just spent an hour this weekend reciting to one of my cats. Might have spent longer, but I couldn't get up to get the reading material... A number of ex-stutterers — including James Earl Jones, if I remember correctly — have mentioned practicing on animals for much this reason.

I just spent an hour this weekend reciting to one of my cats. Might have spent longer, but I couldn’t get up to get the reading material…

]]> By: ryane http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1039988 ryane Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1039988 The school my son attends has a read to a dog program, but what i really love about this article, is the English use of the word scheme. We had a computer purchase program here, and my friends in the UK office had a computer purchase scheme. I always felt that they were getting away with something, like they were taking the computers and selling them out of a white van at a gas station. The school my son attends has a read to a dog program, but what i really love about this article, is the English use of the word scheme. We had a computer purchase program here, and my friends in the UK office had a computer purchase scheme. I always felt that they were getting away with something, like they were taking the computers and selling them out of a white van at a gas station.

]]> By: liamo http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1039991 liamo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1039991 The author of the article is Patrick <i>Barkham</i><br><br>Is life too friggin weird or what? The author of the article is Patrick Barkham

Is life too friggin weird or what?

]]> By: DieFem http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1039992 DieFem Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1039992 This is extremely both cute and useful!. Wonderful idea, I will comment it to my mom (she is a teacher). This is extremely both cute and useful!. Wonderful idea, I will comment it to my mom (she is a teacher).

]]> By: funlovingsociopath http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040004 funlovingsociopath Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040004 The Fauves were right, Dogs Are The Best People. The Fauves were right, Dogs Are The Best People.

]]> By: steverb http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040009 steverb Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040009 I just want to know how they trained the dog to sit still that long. Our greyhound mix had the attention span of a caffeinated ferret. I just want to know how they trained the dog to sit still that long. Our greyhound mix had the attention span of a caffeinated ferret.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040011 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040011 Great article. We've also been doing this program at Halifax Public Libraries in Nova Scotia for a few years now, it's called PAWS to Read and is one of our most popular children's programs. Great article. We’ve also been doing this program at Halifax Public Libraries in Nova Scotia for a few years now, it’s called PAWS to Read and is one of our most popular children’s programs.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040012 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040012 New part-time job opportunity for students? Skills required: a) "quietly listening to completely uninteresting speech while appearing marginally alert over prolonged periods of time" b) "a non-allergenic coat of hair (optional but highly desirable)" New part-time job opportunity for students?
Skills required:
a) “quietly listening to completely uninteresting speech while appearing marginally alert over prolonged periods of time”
b) “a non-allergenic coat of hair (optional but highly desirable)”

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040020 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040020 Ottawa (Canada) libraries have been doing a similar things and it looks like it's a wonderful success! They also use the Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ) program. My 4-year old absolutely loved reading a kid's book about knights and castles to Zip, a beautiful retriever that looked at him kindly the whole time. What Ottawa is doing: http://www.ottawatherapydogs.ca/programs/read.php The main program (linked in the article, but I'll put it here for future reference and extra Google points!): http://www.therapyanimals.org/R.E.A.D.html Ottawa (Canada) libraries have been doing a similar things and it looks like it’s a wonderful success! They also use the Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ) program. My 4-year old absolutely loved reading a kid’s book about knights and castles to Zip, a beautiful retriever that looked at him kindly the whole time.

What Ottawa is doing: http://www.ottawatherapydogs.ca/programs/read.php
The main program (linked in the article, but I’ll put it here for future reference and extra Google points!): http://www.therapyanimals.org/R.E.A.D.html

]]> By: abulafia http://boingboing.net/2011/03/01/read-dogs-nonjudgmen.html#comment-1040023 abulafia Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1040023 That dog is wearing your cape Cory!!! That dog is wearing your cape Cory!!!

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