It’s National Dog Day in the UK, so we’re counting down some of our favourite things about our furry friends and dyslexia, from those who help us out with reading to the puppers all over the world who have been getting involved with our very own Go Red for Dyslexia campaign.
#1. They’re actually pretty good at helping us learn to read…
Literacy is a big concern for a lot of education professionals and parents at the moment. With government reports over here in the UK showing that approximately 1 in 5 children leave primary school unable to read and the impact of long-term remote learning and disrupted education as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 response, we’re hearing some worrying statistics.
But research has shown that dogs could be the key to establishing better reading habits in young people and have a big impact on their reading journey! Reading to dogs is a simple practice – just grab a furry friend and get reading – but the calming effect that dogs have on many people can really help children settle into the act of reading if they’re nervous and anxious, as well as creating an interpersonal reading environment that feels low-pressure and free of judgment.
You can find out more at The Independent, as well as at the Bark and Read Foundation and Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ).
#2. The #GoRed Pup Squad
For Dyslexia Awareness Month this October, we’re Going Red to raise awareness and change the narrative surrounding dyslexia and literacy differences.
It's a colour that a lot of us are familiar with; often being used to highlight our mistakes or mark us down at school - and we're on a mission to unite the global dyslexia community to reclaim it. This means red tees, red light, and red accessories - as well as joining our (albeit slightly deflated-looking) Go Red beach ball on a journey across the world.
And our pets have been getting involved too! We’ve loved seeing how dedicated doggos like Eli over here have been giving it all for our campaign, and showing the world that going red is one of the best ways to show that you’re committed to raising the profile of dyslexia in all kinds of communities, and contributing to a more aware and inclusive world.
We'll also be blogging about some more of our Go Red pups next month... so for some good boy and good girl goodness, stay tuned!
#3. There’s Even a Dog with Dyslexia!
It’s not easy, sometimes, getting through school when you’ve got literacy differences. Sometimes the words don’t make sense and you struggle to read them, and sometimes you’ve got to read through things much faster than you’re comfortable with- and it can make you feel left out or perhaps isolated from your classmates, too. These are the struggles facing Dylan the Dog in Jo North’s new book Dylan, A Dog With Dyslexia.
The cheeky and loveable hound worries that his dyslexia might make him different, but there’s a happy ending in store as he learns more about dyslexia and realises that he has nothing to worry about – he’s brilliant just the way he is. You can check out Dylan and his pals at Shine Books.
#4. They’re an Inspiration!
We love a good feel-good story, and Rab MacLeod’s is one of our faves. When he was struggling at school during the 1970s and 1980s due to his dyslexia, it was Rab’s faithful dog that got him through emotionally. Fast-forward to the present day, and the current pooch in his life- a Bouvier de Flandres called Bruce- developed some health problems that meant he needed a certain diet in order to live a healthy life. Disappointed by the current state of what’s on the market, Rab set about setting up his own dog food company that created high-quality grain-free foods for pups like Bruce who need a diet that’s low on gluten.
He’s also donating 10% of the profits to charities and organisations who use dogs to help children and young people on their reading journey, like the ones we mentioned above, and it’s a huge part of his vision to support people who have additional learning needs. You can read more about his story here.
Was this article just an excuse to share some of our favourite pictures of our pups? Maybe. Do we want to see more dogs? Obviously. Show us your muddy mutts, your pampered pooches and your four-legged barking besties doing their bit for dyslexia awareness by tagging us at @SWDyslexia on Twitter and @SucceedWithDyslexia on Instagram.
We just love dogs a lot, okay.