Dogs supporting human literacy
Duo Touch Therapy teams visit local schools and libraries as part of our Paws for Reading program, which uses therapy dogs to encourage and motivate children to read. With a dog’s calming presence and gentle encouragement, young readers can improve their focus, word recognition and reading comprehension—without the pressure or anxiety often associated with reading aloud.
Paws for Reading teams work alongside teachers or librarians to support and enhance existing reading curricula. They can be incorporated into both group and one-on-one reading activities, creating a supportive and engaging learning environment.
Paws for Reading activities
Group Reading Sessions
Students take turns reading aloud in a shared setting with the therapy team present.
One-on-One Reading
A student reads individually with the therapy team in a quieter, more private setting.
Jump-In Reading
Students take turns reading parts of a story while others follow along, each “jumping in” at different points.
Writing Assignments
Students use the therapy team as inspiration for journal entries, creative writing, skits, plays and more.
Lasting impact
Schools and libraries participating in the Paws for Reading program can also join our incentive reading initiative, which gives students the opportunity to earn books for their school or library collections, encouraging both literacy and a love of reading.
Contact us
If your organization is interested in bringing the Paws for Reading program to your facility, please complete the Duo Touch Therapy Facility form.
Becoming a Touch Therapy facility
Learn about what it means to become a Duo Dogs Touch Therapy facility.