Maestoso Poodles

Chris Sherman, 9, reads The Gingerbread Cowboy aloud to Jester, a 5-year old black poodle during Reading for Rover at the DeKalb Public Library on Monday. The event encourages children to read aloud and gives them an impartial audience to read to. EMILY OLSON | emolson@daily-chronicle.com

By EMILY OLSON - emolson@daily-chronicle.com

DeKALB - Jester sat patiently on a rug at the DeKalb Public Library, focused on 9-year-old Chris Sherman's reading of “The Gingerbread Cowboy” by Janet Squires.

“Giddyap, giddyap as fast as you can,” Chris read to the 5-year-old black poodle Monday evening.

Chris and Jester were taking part in Reading to Rover, a children's program that brings therapy dogs into the library. Children read aloud to the dogs, who provide a rapt and nonjudgmental audience.

“Reading to Rover is very popular because dogs don't say ‘You didn't say that word right,' ” said Theresa Winterbauer, director of youth services at the library.

The hope is that the night of reading will increase children's confidence, Winterbauer said.

“This encourages reading aloud to increase verbal fluency,” she said.

Chris' mother, Linda Sherman, said the family has turned Monday into library day. It's nice for the family to have the day to look forward to each week, she said.

“This is another avenue of encouragement,” she said.

The program draws readers of various ages. Winterbauer says they've had readers as young as preschool age sounding out each word, up to 13-year-olds working on English fluency.

And the children aren't the only ones learning.

All the dogs who participate in the event are certified therapy dogs, but some have spent more time around the elderly than with young children.

“Some dogs are so friendly and excited but not always quite as focused on the story,” Winterbauer said.

Jester, a former show dog, has made more than 120 visits to local hospitals and retirement homes as well as doing Reading for Rover at the library. His owner, Sharon Pflaumer, has trained him to be comfortable around people, though some of his demeanor is just part of his personality, she said.

“A lot of the behavior with him is just naturally who he is,” she said.

Pflaumer explained the effects Jester has both on children on the elderly as something special.

“Sometimes he'll stare up into people's eyes, and something beyond words is exchanged,” she said.

Published on the website of The Daily Chronicle
Updated: Jul 22, 2008 - 01:10:48 am CDT

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