R.E.A.D.ing Paws Therapy Dog Workshop

R.E.A.D.ing Paws Therapy Dog Workshop

by | Sep 7, 2026

Join Dog-Harmony for an informal, highly interactive, instructor-led workshop to prepare you and your dog to become a registered R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) team. This human-only training session covers everything you need to know about the R.E.A.D. program through lively discussions, video examples, and a structured PowerPoint presentation—all from the comfort of your home.

Cost & What’s Included

  • Registration Fee: $80 (one-time fee for new participants)
  • Includes: Official R.E.A.D. training manual, research handouts, and live Zoom instruction
  • Perk: Lifetime access—pay once and attend any future refresher sessions for free to keep your skills sharp

How to Prepare

Upon registration, please submit payment via Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, or check so your training manual and handouts can be shipped via UPS prior to the event. You will also need to provide:

  • Your current mailing address (for course materials)
  • A photo of your dog to be included in the workshop presentation

Note: Following the completion of this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to officially register with the national R.E.A.D. organization for a separate $70 lifetime fee (contingent on maintaining an active therapy dog registration). Full details will be provided at the end of the class.

READing Paws Program Receives Pawsitive Feedback From Okaloosa County Schools

READing Paws Program Receives Pawsitive Feedback From Okaloosa County Schools

by | May 19, 2026 | Testimonials

The student “has had such a great success with Reading with a Dog this year. It has built his confidence and helped him become more successful in reading. His State Testing score went up a level, and I believe Reading with a Dog helped him achieve this goal! Please thank the Reading with a Dog group for helping [him] with his reading. The help they gave him in building a good reading foundation and raising his reading confidence will be with him throughout his education!”

Teacher

Okaloosa County School District

“I wanted to let you know that I have seen an improvement in [the Student’s] behavior in class and his focus has been better since he started seeing the therapy dog. There is a calmness in him that was rarely seen before and he scored a level 2 on the ELA FAST! The therapy has helped him be successful.”

Teacher

Okaloosa County School District

The student “really enjoyed getting to go read to the dog. On multiple occasions, he would ask if he was going to go to the library to read after PE, even though it was not the day of the week for it. He still would ask, because he truly looked forward to going. He felt special getting to go read on the days the pup was on campus.”

Teacher

Okaloosa County School District

“Just a quick note to let you know [the student] enjoyed reading with Paws this year. He always had a smile on his face going and coming. He says it helped calm him for the remainder of the day.”

Teacher

Okaloosa County School District

photograph of bonnie london with her reading paws therapy dog, scout, at an okaloosa county, florida school
photograph of millie the therapy dog with her handler
Paws and Pages: Dog-Harmony Brings Animal-Assisted Children’s Literacy Program to Four Area Libraries

Paws and Pages: Dog-Harmony Brings Animal-Assisted Children’s Literacy Program to Four Area Libraries

by | May 12, 2026 | Press Releases

By Christie Solomon

Miramar Beach, Fla. — This summer, Okaloosa and Walton County students have new opportunities to build reading confidence with Dog-Harmony’s animal-assisted literacy program, Paws and Pages, at four public libraries in Niceville, Fort Walton Beach, Crestview, and Freeport.

The program pairs children with registered therapy dog teams trained through READing Paws, an affiliate of R.E.A.D.® (Reading Education Assistance Dogs®), the nation’s first comprehensive animal-assisted literacy program. Sessions are held monthly at each public library branch and are open to children of all reading levels.

“Paws and Pages is about more than just books — it’s about the connection between the child and the dog that opens the door to a lifelong love of reading,” said Nancy Bown, founder of Dog-Harmony. “We see children who were once hesitant to read aloud suddenly blossom when they have a dog by their side.”

According to research, four requisite dimensions must be present to encourage children to read: a sense of self-efficacy, motivation, perception of reading as a social activity, and a calm environment. Dogs are non-judgmental, social animals whose mere presence can reduce stress and anxiety. In a reading context, READing Paws therapy dogs provide children with extra encouragement, confidence, and added joy in reading that extends beyond the library.

One Okaloosa County teacher shared that her student’s participation in Dog-Harmony’s READing Paws program this past year improved her student’s confidence and his reading skills. “His state testing score went up a level, and I believe reading with a dog helped him achieve this goal!” She continued, saying, “The help they gave him in building a good reading foundation and raising his reading confidence will be with him throughout his education!”

Community members are invited to sign up for sessions with Dog-Harmony’s READing Paws teams on a rotating monthly schedule at these libraries in Okaloosa and Walton Counties:

  • Niceville Public Library: Every first Saturday morning
  • Crestview Public Library: Every second Saturday morning
  • Fort Walton Beach Library: Every third Saturday morning
  • Freeport Public Library: Every first and third Wednesday afternoon

Dog-Harmony plans to introduce Paws and Pages literacy programs at Walton-Defuniak Library and Coastal Branch Library by the fall. Families must register for individual reading time slots directly with the library of their choice.

To learn more about the program and participating libraries, visit: https://dog-harmony.org/therapy-dog-team-management.

About READing Paws

READing Paws is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) affiliate of R.E.A.D.® (Reading Education Assistance Dogs®), a program of Intermountain Therapy Animals® of Salt Lake City, Utah. Launched in 1999, R.E.A.D. is the first comprehensive literacy program built around the idea of children reading to therapy dogs. READing Paws deploys nationally registered therapy animal-handler teams as reading companions in schools, libraries, and community settings across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and Tennessee. All teams undergo national criminal background checks and meet rigorous health, safety, and temperament standards. For more information, visit www.readingpaws.org.