Students at Humboldt Elementary School picked up a book to read to therapy dogs Friday afternoon.

“I liked it whenever the dog was listening to me,” said 8-year-old Adam Bradley.

Humboldt Librarian Stephanie Grable said she heard about the Reading-PUPS program and decided to bring the Domesti-PUPS in to work with students at the school who may be having a difficult time with their studies.

“Any child no matter what their reading ability needs to practice and work on their reading skills,” said Grable. “Reading to the dogs kind of helps them forget about some of their limitations, and it may help them kind of forget about peer-pressure as well and they can really concentrate on building up their confidence in reading.”

The Reading-PUPS program is an organization of local volunteers and dogs that have gone through special training to assist children with speech or reading difficulties.  Friday was the first day students at Humboldt had a chance to read to the dogs. Grable said the Reading-Pups will be brought in on the first Friday of each month to work with a selected group of students.

“Any student who may be introverted, or may struggle here and there with reading and even the ones who don’t struggle with reading need a chance to kind of increase their skills and just work on it,” said Grable.

Bradley said he highly recommends reading to dogs.

“”That’s a good way to read,” said Bradley. “If the dogs are trained.”