WATCH: A program in Long Beach pairs dogs and students together to encourage students to read aloud without fear of judgment.
by Newly Paul

Groucho, The Original Reading Dog
by Emilie Mutert

Josie Gavieres' dog Groucho is a real work horse.

Most days he travels with his faithful owner to elementary schools in Long Beach and Los Angeles to help children improve their reading skills and to give presentations about therapy dogs.

When Groucho is not helping people, he helps Gavieres fill in as a surrogate
mother for orphaned kittens, licking their faces clean after feedings and
keeping them tucked under the folds of his skin to keep them warm.
(photo by Josie Gavieres)

At three years old, Groucho, a yellow labrador retriever, has already been trained as a guide dog for the blind and as a therapy dog. He undertook the guide dog training program when he was 18 months old, and he passed almost all of the courses with flying colors.

"They [guide dog trainers] were really excited about him, because he could guide people through busy cities, cross busy intersections, without getting excited or overwhelmed," Gavieres said.

But Groucho had one unbreakable habit that kept him from becoming a full-fledged guide dog.

"He'd made it through nine of the ten stages of the process, but he wouldn't stop marking his territory," Gavieres said. "He can't be stopping to urinate every ten feet if he's trying to guide someone to work."

Since Groucho couldn't quite make it as a guide dog, the organization called on Gavieres to step in and give Groucho a home. An animal lover, Gavieres was a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind and had raised Groucho from the time he was five-and-a-half months old until he was ready to begin his guide dog training at 18 months. She hadn't planned on raising Groucho herself, but she knew his calm, friendly demeanor, which he exemplified at the park, sitting still at Gavieres' feet without so much as a glance toward the noisy construction project nearby.

Therapy dog Groucho helps keep a puppy warm
while they nap at home in Long Beach.
(photo by Josie Gavieres)

A calm demeanor like Groucho's is the main requirement to become a therapy dog.

As of the end of 2008, 19,000 therapy dogs were registered with Therapy Dogs International. It is difficult to quantify the benefits that come from therapy dog programs, because the effects they have on individuals vary. The dogs often visit hospitals, nursing homes, rehab centers and schools, and according to Therapy Dogs International, 92 percent of people who participated in a therapy dog program reported the dog's visits improved their mood.

Beach Animals Reading with Kids, or B.A.R.K., is a reading program Gavieres started after hearing of a similar program in Colorado. Students are paired with trained therapy dogs to practice their reading skills aloud without feeling that there is another person judging them.

Gavieres said that reading with dogs often helps students improve their skills while increasing self-confidence.

"A few weeks ago, Groucho was at a school when the scheduled B.A.R.K. student walked in - obviously very unhappy - stating she was having a bad day," Gavieres recalled. "She was told she did not need to start reading right away. She sat down, put her arms around Groucho and buried her head in his fur. After a few minutes she said, 'I feel better now. I'm ready to read.'"

Gavieres and Groucho made an appearance at the Pet Expo in Long Beach in April, where they had a booth with information on therapy dogs and on the B.A.R.K. reading program. To find out about upcoming appearances or events, or to learn more about how you can be involved with B.A.R.K., you can visit the group's Web site.