Meet Echo: the little dog making a big difference in the classroom

For the past two years, Candice and her toy Cavoodle, Echo, have been quietly changing lives—one page at a time.

As part of AWLQ’s SHARE Reading Dogs Program (Special Human-Animal Relationships in Education), the duo visits a local Brisbane school to support students who need a little extra help with reading. The idea is simple but powerful: children read aloud to a calm, non-judgmental dog and their owner, building their confidence, fluency and love for reading.

When Candice first came across the concept of reading dog programs, she was immediately drawn to the idea. Already involved with AWLQ through emergency boarding and fostering, she jumped at the chance when she saw a callout on Facebook for SHARE volunteers.

“I really wanted to be a positive influence for kids. I’m an avid reader myself, so this seemed like the perfect volunteer role for me,’ Candice says. “I love how excited the kids and Echo get when they see each other. Even the school principal stops to give him pats. Having a cute dog to play with as a positive reinforcement for reading is a great motivator. And seeing the improvements in comprehension and confidence has been very rewarding for me.”

Echo, now three years old, is as sweet as he is social. During their weekly sessions, children take turns reading to him. Echo listens quietly while Candice encourages the children to sound out tricky words. Each session ends with a fun round of tricks and treats with Echo, which Candice says is always a highlight for the kids. Especially when he learns a new trick they can practice with him!

Candice says she and Echo typically see around eight students per session, with some incredible results.

She says one young boy, who is just six years old and is selectively mute, still hasn’t been comfortable speaking to his classroom teacher. But with Echo, on the first day, something wonderful happened.

“He was very shy, but he started reading aloud very slowly in the first session,” Candice says. “He’s now been four times to see us and I’ve witnessed his reading ability improve noticeably each time. He is much more confident and gets excited about reading.”

The boy’s older brother, who is also selectively mute and hasn’t yet spoken aloud, now also participates in the sessions.

One of the key ingredients to the program’s success is the consistent, caring environment. Children read to the same dog each week in a quiet room, with support from an inclusion teacher. It’s a safe space where they can feel comfortable to take their time and build their reading confidence.

Programs like SHARE have already shown success across the US, New Zealand and Europe—helping to reduce anxiety around reading, boost motivation, and develop self-esteem. And thanks to wonderful volunteers like Candice and Echo, children in our local communities are now reaping those same rewards.

Get Involved

Schools interested in hosting a SHARE Reading Dog can contact AWLQ’s Education Team or download the School Registration Form and Teacher’s Handbook.

Volunteers with calm, friendly dogs are encouraged to apply to become a SHARE Reading Dog team. Download the Volunteer Registration Form and Handbook, or contact our Education Team to learn more.