The Story Dogs Difference: Why Our Volunteer Teams Are Professionally Assessed
Janine Sigley • July 4, 2025
Every wag tells a story - and behind each one is a qualified Story Dogs Assessor making sure it starts with success.
At Story Dogs, we believe that creating confident readers starts with creating confident teams. That’s why every single volunteer and dog is professionally assessed before they begin working in schools. It’s a vital part of what makes our program safe, impactful, and truly life changing.
Why We Assess:
Children who struggle with reading often need extra support — not just academically, but emotionally. That’s why Story Dogs sessions are calm, consistent, and non-judgemental. To deliver this experience, we make sure every Team is ready from day one.
Assessment isn’t just a tick-the-box process — it’s a thoughtful evaluation of how the dog and handler work together and how they’ll respond to the school environment.
What Our Assessors Look For:
Our trained Assessors evaluate:
🐾 The dog’s calm, friendly temperament
🐾 Obedience and trust between dog and handler
🐾 The team’s ability to remain focused in busy, noisy settings
🐾 Excellent grooming, health, and hygiene
🐾 A dog that enjoys attention and listening to stories
We’re not looking for show ponies — we’re looking for school-ready Story Dogs that can help children relax, engage, and feel proud of their reading journey.
Who Are Our Assessors?
Our Assessors are experienced professionals. All have backgrounds in dog behaviour, dog training, or dog therapy work. Our Assessors use force free training methods and will help our volunteers with hints and tips to ensure a strong bond is maintained between the dog and handler.
They not only welcome each new team but guide them with care - providing valuable feedback and ongoing support.
Ongoing Support & Quality Assurance:
Assessment is just the beginning. Once in the school, our volunteers receive ongoing contact, check-ins, and encouragement — especially during their first year. This ensures the experience is safe and successful for:
• The child
• The school
• The volunteer
• And of course, the dog!
This ongoing model of support is what sets Story Dogs apart. It’s our commitment to quality, not just quantity.
In Their Own Words:
“It’s not about perfect obedience — it’s about building trust. We’re here to help each team bring calm and confidence into the classroom.”
Story Dogs Assessor
Conclusion
Every orange vest you see in a school represents hours of dedication - not just from the volunteer and their dog, but also from our Assessors who set them up for success.
The Story Dogs Difference is more than a cute moment. It’s a professionally guided program that works — and our Assessors are a key part of that success.
🧡 Let’s give them the recognition they deserve.
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Assistance Dogs: A Lifeline for People with Disabilities An assistance dog is specially trained to help individuals with disabilities by performing specific tasks that alleviate the effects of their condition. These dogs are accredited under state and territory laws in Australia and recognized under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth). Because of their essential role, assistance dogs are permitted access to public spaces, including restaurants, shops, and public transport. Common types of assistance dogs include: Guide Dogs – Help individuals who are blind or visually impaired navigate safely. Hearing Dogs – Alert people with hearing impairments to important sounds. Mobility Assistance Dogs – Support individuals with physical disabilities by retrieving objects, opening doors, and assisting with movement. Medical Alert Dogs – Detect seizures, low blood sugar, or other medical conditions and alert their handler. T herapy Dogs: Comfort and Emotional Support A therapy dog is trained to provide emotional support, comfort, and companionship in settings such as hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. Unlike assistance dogs, therapy dogs do not perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities. Instead, they offer stress relief, social interaction, and emotional well-being through Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT), which is often conducted by healthcare professionals. Therapy dogs are frequently used in: Hospitals to reduce anxiety for patients Nursing homes to provide companionship for the elderly Schools to support students with emotional regulation While therapy dogs bring great comfort, they do not have the same legal access rights as assistance dogs. School Dogs: Enhancing Student Well-Being A school dog is integrated into a school environment to support students' emotional, social, and cognitive development. Schools often introduce dogs to help: Reduce student anxiety and stress Improve classroom behaviour and social skills Enhance student engagement and focus The role of a school dog varies depending on the school’s objectives and the training the dog has received. They may assist students in emotional regulation, provide comfort in counselling sessions, or simply create a calming presence in the classroom. Story Dogs: Improving Literacy Through Animal-Assisted Learning A Story Dog is not a therapy dog or assistance dog —it serves a unique purpose in Animal-Assisted Learning (AAL) by helping children develop confidence in reading. The concept is simple but powerful: children read aloud to a friendly, non-judgmental dog in a relaxed environment. This interaction helps to: 📖 Boost reading confidence – Children who struggle with reading feel less pressure when reading to a dog, as they know the dog will not correct or criticize them. 🐾 Reduce anxiety – The presence of a calm, supportive dog makes reading feel safer and more enjoyable. 🧡 Foster a love for books – By associating reading with positive experiences, children are more likely to develop a lifelong passion for learning. Story Dogs are specially chosen for their calm temperament and trained to work in school settings. They visit classrooms or libraries, where children take turns reading to them in one-on-one sessions. The simple act of reading aloud in this setting can transform a child’s attitude toward books, turning reluctance into enthusiasm. Why Story Dogs Are Different Unlike therapy or school dogs, Story Dogs focus exclusively on literacy. They do not provide emotional therapy or generalized well-being support; instead, they engage in a structured literacy program that helps children develop essential reading skills. Every Story Dog session is designed to encourage reading growth and positive reinforcement. Volunteers and their dogs create a welcoming environment where children feel safe, supported, and eager to learn. The goal is not to test or correct reading but to make it an enjoyable, pressure-free experience. The Power of Story Dogs in Schools Recent NAPLAN results indicate that one in three Australian students is not meeting minimum literacy and numeracy standards . This underperformance highlights the need for innovative programs that can help bridge the gap. Story Dogs play a vital role by: Helping children who are reluctant or struggling readers Providing an alternative, stress-free reading environment Offering po s itive reinforcement that builds long-term literacy skills For a child who finds reading daunting, a Story Dog can be the turning point—transforming fear into confidence and hesitation into excitement. Join the Story Dogs Movement! 📢 Do you know a school that could benefit from Story Dogs? Spread the word and help us bring more furry reading buddies into classrooms! 🐾 Interested in becoming a volunteer with your dog? Learn how you can make a difference! Click Here 💡 Businesses and individuals can sponsor a Story Dog team. Your support helps more children discover the joy of reading. Click Here Every child deserves the chance to read with confidence. With Story Dogs, every page turned is a step toward success. 🧡📚🐶 #StoryDogs #ReadingConfidence #LiteracyMatters #AnimalAssistedLearning #DogsThatRead #EducationForAll
Understanding Consent-Based Touch with Your Dog: Why Teaching Kids to ‘Speak Dog’ is Crucial
Building a respectful and trusting relationship with our dogs is essential for their well-being and ours. Consent-based touch is a simple yet powerful concept that helps ensure our interactions are positive, safe, and enjoyable for both humans and dogs. But beyond our own understanding, it's equally important to teach children how to interact with dogs in a way that respects the dog’s boundaries and comfort levels.
The 2024 NAPLAN results are a wake-up call—over 34,000 Year 3 students need additional support with reading. 📚 This makes Story Dogs more crucial than ever. We’re already helping nearly 3,000 students each week, but with so many children still at risk of falling behind, our mission has never been more urgent.
We're beyond thrilled to share that Story Dogs has been named a successful grant recipient of the prestigious Qantas Regional Grants program for 2024!
Since taking off from outback Queensland in 1920, Qantas has been a cornerstone in driving local economic activity and supporting jobs across Australia’s regional communities. Their commitment to these communities, recognized as the heart and spirit of Australia, shines brightly through their Regional Grants program, now in its third incredible year.
Your Dog Can Read Your Mind: Understanding the Unique Bond Between Humans and Dogs
Dogs have been our loyal companions for thousands of years, and their ability to understand and respond to human emotions has fascinated researchers and pet owners alike. But how much can our furry friends really perceive? Can they read our minds? Let's delve into the remarkable bond between humans and dogs and explore the science behind their seemingly intuitive behaviour.
Click on this link to listen to the podcast of Story Dogs. There is some really interest facts about literacy rates in Australia! Enjoy Link
