Man’s best friend is also the teacher’s pet at two Glen Ellyn elementary schools.

The pooches who visit the schools once a month with their trainers are helping first-graders learn to read, or at least building their confidence with the crucial skill.

Since late in the last school year, the furry friends, all trained as therapy dogs, have visited the school, sitting side-by-side with first-graders as the students read out loud to them.

School officials say the practice delights the kids, most of whom love dogs anyway, but also makes them excited about reading books. (Photos: Therapy dogs give new meaning to teacher’s pet)

“When they read to the dogs, nobody’s correcting them. The dog listens to whatever they’re doing,” said Principal Kim Price of Westfield, which serves children from Glen Ellyn and Lombard. In first grade, “this is when they’re emerging readers. It’s just a great age to build confidence.”

For the students, reading a chapter from a book or the entirety of a short story to the likes of Nutmeg, a Shetland Sheepdog or Snickers, a dachshund, is a time at school to look forward to.

“They all know when it’s coming,” said first-grade teacher Bobbi Frey. “The excitement is just incredible.”

The dogs, all part of PAWsitive Therapy Troupe, are vetted and trained to be docile, sweet dogs, who don’t bark wildly or get excited and playful around other dogs. They’re able to sit quietly for an hour and a half while the children take turns reading. Children only participate with permission from parents or guardians.

In some cases at Westfield Elementary last week, the dogs snuggled up to the children reading, dozed off or sat and watched their first-grade buddy sound out words.

“Sometimes they look like they’re actually enjoying the story,” Price said.

The program started last school year when school staff invited the troupe to a family literacy night. Response was overwhelmingly positive, Price said, so the groups decided to make the pairing permanent. The dogs and their trainers, all volunteers, visit the school once a month on a Friday.

They visit Briar Glen Elementary School too, and also make appearances at schools and libraries in Naperville and Lisle, said Karen Click, a program volunteer at the Downers Grove-based organization.

Click said the dogs involved in the troupe are not service dogs, but they are trained to work with physical therapists and their patients, sometimes motivating people learning to walk again after surgeries, Click said. The dogs also visit retirement communities and nursing homes.

First-grader Jonah Keating just sees the experience as a fun time to hang out with pups.

“The dogs are so cute,” he said when asked why he enjoyed reading to them.