Gertrude makes the difference with Niagara Wheatfield students

Article and Photos by Benjamin Joe

Three years ago, a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy found a home with Brigette Callahan, a reading specialist in the Niagara Wheatfield Central School District.

Named Gertrude, the puppy was a puppy mill rescue, but after a year of training through Therapy Dogs International, has since become a certified therapy dog.

The students at Errick Road Elementary School love to interact, pet and give Gertrude treats when she is on site, every Thursday, and also practice their reading out loud as she listens.

For many, it’s a welcome relief.

“We work with kids all day long who have difficulties,” Callahan said during an interview. “Some have difficult family lives, most of our kids we work with have some kind of reading disability. Reading is really hard for them.”

“They struggle,” said Kristin Warham, another reading specialist. “They struggle every day, so to provide something that is calming and comforting (is good.)

“We’ve seen kids where school is just so tough for them. We’ve seen kids who never smile. Who you just can’t break through. And you get Gertrude around them and they’re different. They smile. They’re interactive. They’re enjoying her.”

For students with anxiety, Gertrude is something they look forward to seeing, Callahan said. Every Thursday morning, they come to see her and somehow that makes the difference between being unable to go to school without crying and looking forward to going to learning something new in the classroom.

Warham said Gertrude’s influence over students is easy to see, immediately, as students read to her and become more confident. She noted Gertrude doesn’t judge – no interruptions or correcting – and gives reading a positive association just by being there. Students come to Gertrude with favorite passages to share and also discuss what they want to read to Gertrude with teachers and fellow classmates.

“Their attitudes change,” Callahan said. “Their involvement. Their willingness to do things. It’s almost like their reward. If they’re able to meet certain challenges, they’re able to see her on Thursday. It’s just the idea that ‘I can do it. If I can read this book, if I can put the time and effort into it, then I’ll show Gertrude.’ ”

Kindergartner Rosalie Bogouette pets Gertrude the therapy dog.