A GIANT Burmese Mountain Dog and a fuzz-haired Border Terrier have been helping children to read in schools across Carmarthenshire.
Layla, the laid-back Bernese Mountain Dog, and Riley, an inquisitive Border Terrier, have been making young friends all over Carmarthenshire as part of twelve days of volunteer activity (Jun 1-12).
During this time, Volunteering Matters launched Reading with Dogs, a partnership with Learn Together Cymru, a volunteer- supported community learning project, to help improve literacy in schools across the county.
Carmarthenshire Therapy Dogs have been going into local schools as reading volunteers to support children with their basic skills.
Layla’s owner, Community Resilience Officer Susan Smith, said: “We provide a relaxed and dog-friendly atmosphere, which allows children to practice their reading.
“Many, but not all, of the children chosen for this program have difficulties reading and as a result have developed self-esteem issues. They are often selfconscious when reading aloud in front of other classmates.
“Listening to them read for just 10 minutes a day can make a huge difference to their overall ability and confidence, and the one-to- one interaction is a valuable way of building social skills and inspiring a love of learning.
“By sitting down next to a dog and reading to the dog, all threats of being judged are put aside. The child relaxes, pats the attentive dog, and focuses on the reading.
“Reading improves because the child is practicing the skill of reading, building self-esteem, and associating reading with something pleasant.
“Improving the child’s skill of reading is the major benefit of the program. But there are many more positives that arise from this activity. It can build excitement about reading .”
Community Resilience Coordinators have also been out and about with their dogs in Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford with partner organisations to raise awareness of volunteering in the community.
As well as helping children with their reading , the dogs have been acting as therapy dogs, going into residential homes and schools and even a private home for one -to -one therapy sessions.
Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board Member for Health and Social Care, Councillor Jane Tremlett , said: “The interaction of the dogs with elderly people with dementia and children with profound learning difficulties is astonishing and wonderfully beneficial.
“I have seen them on visits to residential homes. The dogs get milewide smiles in response and residents love petting them.”
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