Verde Vale children meet work dogs

WORK DOG AT REST:
Third-grade children at Verde Vale gather around a work dog during a break.

No. Verde Vale Elementary School hasn't gone to the dogs.

Rather, the four-legged animals came to class to help teach two classrooms of third graders about different working breeds of dogs.

Students in Robert Dumore's and Kathleen Haagensen's third grade classes at Verde Vale Elementary School enjoyed a beautiful morning experiencing several different breeds of dogs and the behaviors associated with them, reports school librarian Rita Reiley.

The teachers and their students watched as working dogs of several different types went through an obstacle course

"We watched the dogs run through courses designed to test their agility, tracking, herding, and retrieving skills," writes Reiley, who had previously held book discussions in the library after reading "Sheep" by Valerie Hobbs.

The book is a "lovely story about a border collie who has had many homes and many names doe to a variety of unfortunate events, Reiley said.

"I think the students loved seeing the dogs. They were very thrilled to see the animals performing," said Dumore, who noted that one dog did a demonstration of scent tracking while others jumped over barriers or did retrieving.

The dog trainers and the book both teach youngsters an awareness about special breeds of dogs and the responsibilities of pet ownership, Reiley explained.

I know that the kids had a great time!" she added.