Reading is one of the most important skills children learn early on. It acts as a foundation for cognitive, language and emotional development. Children who read daily build essential brain connections, improve their vocabulary and get exposed to broader views. And it turns out, a four-legged furry companion can help children improve their reading skills.
In a recent news segment from Fox 5 Atlanta, they visited the Lovett School. At this educational institution in Atlanta, first-graders are experiencing huge gains in reading ability by participating in “Sit Stay Read,” a program that pairs students with trained therapy dogs during reading sessions.
Both educators and students described the presence of dogs as a calming support, making reading out loud less stressful and more engaging. After all, dogs are wonderful listeners, right? They can sit by your side and enjoy your company for hours.
This is not the first study that combined dogs and children for a reading session. Over the years, there have been many experiments like this one, and the results are always positive. The video below is from 2020, when Bideawee, a no-kill pet welfare organization, organized a similar experiment.
Why Do Children Enjoy Reading to Dogs?
All of the children in the study enjoyed positive effects from reading to dogs. Lower School Librarian Perry Yates said that “the therapy dog provides a warm, comforting presence. It’s stress reducing, it’s anxiety reducing…every benefit we get from interacting with a pet they get from reading with a pet one-on-one.”
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Children included in the program said things like, “They’re really fluffy,” “They’re really fun to read with rather than just reading to my mom,” and “They just sit down and look around sometimes when they hear some noises. I’m always just like, I’m so excited and all that.” It’s clear the program is a hit with educators and children alike.
How Therapy Dogs Support Reading Development
Beyond structured reading programs, growing up with a dog in the family can help support children’s development in multiple ways. Dogs encourage children to take part in physical activity, help them learn empathy and help them develop social skills.
Sharon Barrow of Canine Companions, the organization that provided therapy dogs for the program, said that the impact is clear by the end of the school year. She confirmed that the students’ reading skills improved and it is amazing to see the progress they have made.
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This story was originally published by Parade Pets on Feb 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.