Durham resident Laurie Belden is the proud owner of Jackson, a 2-year-old Labrador retriever who is getting ready to start his career as a therapy dog. Belden and Jackson will be participating in “Reading has Gone to the Dogs, “a Freeport Community Library program designed to help children improve their reading skills by reading to therapy dogs.

Belden, 46, a vice president for an Augusta-based nonprofit hospice-care provider, recently spoke with the Tri-Town Weekly about the power of canine companionship, the role of therapy dogs, and how the kids respond to reading with a dog.

Q: How did you get involved with the therapy dog program?

A: My dog Jackson was approved this summer by Therapy Dog International and they sent me a listing of all the organizations who were looking for dogs to work with patients or in the community. There was a definite need in the assisted-living facilities, but the evaluator said Jackson actually has a very good temperament for children. Based on that, I began looking for ways to get him involved with kids, which led me to Holly (Elliot) of the Freeport Community Library.

Q: So how does the program work?

A: We go into the library for around an hour. The kids meet Jackson, do some petting and general playtime, and then the kids read one or two books. As sweet as it is to witness a child bond with my dog, the program provides a safe, fun and non-judgmental space for kids to practice their reading, thereby increasing their confidence and joy of reading. Jackson, and I would guess the other dogs who are part of this program, sit alongside the child as they read aloud. He looks and sniffs at the pages when shown the story’s picture and relaxes while enjoying ear and belly rubs – which naturally seems to be a part of this unique sharing experience. It’s a sweet thing to witness.

Q: How did Jackson become a therapy dog?

A: We started training him early on when he was a puppy. We had an older yellow Lab who has since died that I would bring to one of my relatives who was in frail health. Though the dog wasn’t trained, he was an excellent companion for me and I thought I would like to do this again through a therapy dog program. When we got Jackson, we spent a lot of time getting him socialized with other dogs and people. He then went through a series of formal trainings to achieve his Good Canine Citizenship certification. After a year, we did the therapy dog training and he was certified.

Q: What does that certification involve?

A: He has to be attentive to the handler so when he is around kids or patients he doesn’t become easily distracted or run off and misbehave. He’s not a perfect dog, I don’t think any dog is, but we continually work with him. I’ll walk him through crowds so he’s comfortable around people and especially kids.

Q: What are the benefits of therapy dogs? Are they similar to service dogs?

A: The main benefit is an emotional one through a therapy dog, where a service dog can assist in basic, everyday functions for the owner. The therapy dog is about companionship, not duty.

Q: Are some breeds better suited to be a therapy dog?

A: It comes down to the individual dog and not the breed. Through the training, you can identify if the dog is well-suited. They have to be comfortable around loud noises, crutches, and have an even temperament. They can react, but it has to be within reason. They do screen for temperament, which is the big thing. The average age of a therapy dog is roughly 5 years, but luckily Jackson is a pretty mellow dog who loves people.

A CLOSER LOOK

“Reading has Gone to the Dogs,” a program designed to help children improve their reading skills by reading to therapy dogs, is held on the first and third Monday of the month from 5-6 p.m. at he Freeport Community Library, through Dec. 17.

Participants must sign up for a 15-minute spot at the children’s desk or call 865-3307. For ages 4 and up.

Durham resident Laurie Belden and her 2-year-old Labrador retriever, Jackson, are participating in a Freeport Community Library program designed to help children improve their reading skills by reading to therapy dogs.