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Review the Request a Therapy Dog FAQ page.  

Please make sure your principal, key staff, and your school district risk management office have approved Bow Wow Reading Dog visits. If you are a public library, the program must be approved by the head librarian. 

Determine how the yearly program fees will be paid.  Are you planning to use your schools’ funds, PTO fundraisers, parent donations, or business sponsorships?  Assistance is available for raising the program fees if you work for a title one school.  

Familiarize yourself with the Bow Wow Therapy Dog program code of conduct.  

Define your policies and procedures related to Bow Wow Therapy Dog teams working with students at your organization.  Items to consider include:

• Can any child pet the dog if they ask the handler's permission?
• Do children need to wash their hands before and after a visit, or does the handler need to carry hand sanitizer?
• Where should the dog relieve itself (the handler will always pick up after the dog)?
• Who will be the point of contact?  Who will notify the volunteers if the schedule changes?  
• Who will select the children for the program?  
• Who will ensure the children arrive at their appointed time? 

Determine the best day and length of time for a visit.

• A Bow Wow Reading Dog team will typically visit weekly for 1-2 hours and work one-on-one with children for 15 to 20 minutes each.  Programs can be during the school day or after school.  
• If you would like a group reading session, please let the Dog Alliance volunteer coordinator know.  Group reading sessions require dogs and handlers with more advanced training and experience than those needed for one-on-one reading sessions.  
• Ideally, at the beginning of the semester, a therapy dog team should only be scheduled for an hour.  When the handler and dog are more experienced, up to another hour may be scheduled if the volunteer agrees and a short break is given between the hours.   If you need a therapy dog for more than 2 hours, please contact the Dog Alliance to schedule another team.

Select a suitable location for the team to sit during their weekly visits.

• Within the library or classroom but away from the main activity areas
• A quiet corner or against a wall so the team cannot be approached from behind
• Provide a low chair or sturdy stool for the volunteer (see example here)

Submit the Bow Wow Reading Dog request form. 

Contact the Dog Alliance volunteer coordinator. 

When your school or library is matched with a Bow Wow Reading Dog team, you will be provided with the dog’s rabies certificate, a photo of the dog and handler team, and a copy of their certificate of membership showing the expiration date, and the contact information for the handler.    You will also be provided with a copy of the district level or general insurance agreement with the Dog Alliance.  

Bow Wow Therapy Dog handlers will be wearing a Dog Alliance logo shirt and a name tag.  The Dog will be wearing a Dog Alliance vest.  

Goals for the welcome orientation provided for a new Bow Wow Reading Dog team include:

• Introduce the key people (principal and possibly the teachers and kids; if a library, other librarians, and key volunteers).
• Provide policies and procedures for volunteers – e.g., how to sign in and out, what is required for a background check (if this has not been done already), rules regarding visits with dogs, etc.
• Provide instruction on where to park.  Provide parking passes if needed.  
• Show the handler where the books are for various grade levels in case kids forget to bring books.
• Show the handler where they will be reading with the children. Provide a low stool or chair for the handler.  Click to see examples on Smile. Amazon.  
• Show the handler the restroom and where the dog may relieve itself (handlers will always clean up after their dog).
• Decide if the handler needs to confirm a visit the day before and whom they should contact (site coordinator or site coordinator and participating teachers).
• Determine who should be called or emailed if the team needs to cancel a visit – especially the day of the visit.
• Exchange contact information – phone numbers and e-mails of the Bow Wow Reading Dog team handler, the school or library site coordinator, and the teachers of the students in the program, if applicable.
• Determine who will remind the teachers to send their children to read.

     - The day before

     - The morning of the visit

     - Before each child visits with the Bow Wow Reading Dog team (you can build         in extra time for this if necessary)

• Confirm the day and time for visits.
• Provide a calendar with a list of dates indicating holidays, early release, testing, etc.
• Discuss possibly having 3 children on the first visit and working up to 8, if needed.
• The Bow Wow Reading Dog program handlers have been given training on how to support struggling readers.  If you would like the volunteer to use specific techniques, provide training on your methods.  

Note:  If an orientation does not seem necessary for a returning team, you may cover necessary orientation points through an email or phone call with the handler.

When selecting students that could benefit from reading or meeting with a Bow Wow Reading Dog team, consider the following:  

• Comfort level around the dog 
• Allergies or health concerns
• The risk level for harming the dog 
• Reading scores
• The ability of the child to be successful with the Reading Dog team and not their day to day instructor
• Potential self-esteem benefits from meeting with a reading buddy on a weekly basis 

Distribute and collect the Dog Alliance permission forms for the selected students. Click here to download sample documents in Microsoft Word.

Click here to download sample documents in PDF format.   

Update the participant data spreadsheet at the start and end of each semester.  Email the data to Info@TheDogAlliance.org.  Data is needed for our donors who support this program.  

All of the volunteers and staff of the Dog Alliance have been vaccinated for COVID.  When Williamson County is in stage orange or red, we highly recommend that our volunteers wear face masks, even outside when social distancing can not be maintained.  The Dog Alliance volunteers will wear masks if requested to do so by your facility.  

Our new client onboarding application includes questions about your COVID policies.  Our goal is to adhere to your policies. 

Per our Bow Wow Therapy Dog program policies, all therapy dogs must be bathed with 48 hours of visiting a client.  This helps to reduce the shedding at the time of the visit. 

We recommend obtaining signed permission slips from parents for school programs before assigning a dog to a child to improve their reading skills. Bow Wow Therapy dogs are taught not to approach a person until given permission. In addition, adults and children with allergies should not ask to pet the dog.  

Dog Alliance Bow Wow Therapy teams are certified at three levels.

Predictable Level Teams - For dogs that are either just beginning their career as therapy dogs or dogs that might get a little too overwhelmed in a highly distracting environment.  These dogs do best with one-on-one interactions in a predictable environment. For example, predictable teams often read with children in a quiet setting.

Complex Level Teams - Bow Wow Therapy dogs with over 30 hours of experience may test for complex level certification.  These dogs are suitable in crowds of adults or children.  Complex dogs will do well in unfamiliar environments that may be unpredictable; this includes group events for youth, family events, and festivals at your school or library.   About 20% of the Bow Wow Therapy teams achieve this level of certification. 

Complex Plus Level Teams - Additional training and testing are required for this level of therapy dogs.  These dogs can work side by side with other dogs in close proximity and work off-leash when required by the facility.  Complex level handlers either have a background in special education or social work or have taken additional courses with the Dog Alliance to qualify for this level. These dogs and their handlers are well suited for special education classrooms that typically have a very high staff-to-student ratio.  Unfortunately, only about 5% of the Bow Wow Therapy Dog teams achieve this special designation.  If you require this level of Bow Wow Reading Dog team, please express your request in the early stages of the matching process.  

Yes!  

The Dog Alliance Bow Wow Therapy dogs and their amazing handlers can provide educational programs at our location in Cedar Park, Texas, or at your location that is within 30 miles of our Cedar Park location. 

Programs include but are not limited to:  

• Storytime for children
• Educational program about petting dogs and being safe around new dogs
• Boy and girl scout pet badge programs
• Educational program about service dogs for youth or adults

Don't hesitate to get in touch with us for more information. 

If a Bow Wow Reading session needs to be canceled (testing, holidays, events) please inform the Bow Wow Reading Dog team in advance.

If the pet is restless or stressed, the team will take a break. If that does not work, they may need to end the session.

Teaching staff or librarians MUST ALWAYS be present during a Bow Wow Reading Dog session. The handler will manage the dog and the reading activity but will rely on staff to help with any other assistance the child may need.

If you encounter any issues or have any concerns, please contact us immediately.  By working together and communicating openly, we will have a better program at your school or library.  

We can't wait to work with you!

Please schedule a return phone call with our volunteer coordinator.  Click here to select a time that is convenient for you.