Nor'wester Readers Canine Assisted Learning Program uses registered therapy dogs to enhance the educational environment so that children are motivated to work on their reading, writing, and communication skills. In addition, our therapy dogs are also working with school guidance counselors and psychologists to support students with social and emotional needs.
Dogs are ideal reading and learning companions because they help increase relaxation, listen attentively, do not judge, laugh, or criticize, allow children to proceed at their own pace, and are less intimidating than the students' peers.
Therapy dog handlers/volunteers work with students individually or in small groups under the direction and supervision of the classroom teacher. The handler is a skilled facilitator, shifting performance pressure off the child and providing support as the child receives supervised reading practice necessary to build vocabulary, increase comprehension, and gain fluency as a reader. Unmotivated readers and learners gain motivation, confidence, and discover the joys of becoming a life-long reader and learner at the side of their therapy dog.
Nor'wester Readers is the brainchild of Wendi Huttner, a former Council Rock parent, who is owner of Ridgeway Labrador Retrievers. She has been a breeder, exhibitor, and dog trainer for over 30 years. Over the years her dogs have been conformation champions, obedience title holders, working field dogs, and a Seeing Eye trainee. Wendi is a certified therapy dog handler, and her dogs Wes and Sadie are both AKC Canine Good Citizens (CGC) as well as registered therapy dogs with The Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Inc.
Wendi and her dog AKC Champion Balrion Weathertop Nor'wester, CGC, (Wes) listen to a student read. Wes was the founding therapy dog of the Nor'wester Readers program, which took his name.
Deborah (Debbie) Glessner worked as a school librarian for 37 years and three years as the district curriculum coordinator for library media services in Council Rock School District. She was approached by Wendi Huttner to become co-director of the Nor'wester Readers program upon her retirement in 2007. Debbie owns a Labrador Retriever named Hannah who is also an AKC Canine Good Citizen and a registered therapy dog with The Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Inc.
Debbie and Hannah relax with several of their reading buddies after hearing some great stories. Hannah started therapy dog work at the age of 16 months.
GREAT NEWS COVERAGE ABOUT THERAPY DOGS
On ABC World News Tonight broadcast August 21, 2010, there was coverage about a recent study on the impact of therapy dog reading programs on children. If you missed it, you can access the link here and view the video clip and accompanying article: http://abcnews.go.com/WN/study-dogs-children-learn-read/story?id=11428770
Wendi and her dog AKC Champion Balrion Weathertop Nor'wester, CGC, (Wes) listen to a student read. Wes was the founding therapy dog of the Nor'wester Readers program, which took his name. 
Debbie and Hannah relax with several of their reading buddies after hearing some great stories. Hannah started therapy dog work at the age of 16 months.