A reader’s best friend

Sophie is a favorite visitor to the McSorley Elementary School library in Lewiston, and she’s never checked out a book.

That’s because Sophie is an 8-year-old Spinone Italiano, a wire-haired pointer dog.

She comes every week to the library and kids read to her in the quiet library as she lies down, cuddles, listens and sometimes holds the pages with her paws. Her owner, Cory Johnson, said the breed is mellow and trainable and is often used as therapy dogs in the U.S. and the United Kingdom. Although Johnson said her other Spinone Italiano isn’t a therapy dog, Sophie “just had what it took.”

Sophie has been a therapy dog for six years. She and her owner started with rehabilitation centers but now have been to hospitals, schools and the library.

Sophie’s visits to the Lewiston City Library caught the attention of McSorley library aide Darci Schiller, who asked Johnson to come to the school.

“I thought that it would be great for kids to come in and see her,” Schiller said.

Studies have been done that show the benefits of reading to dogs, which is more relaxing for the students.

“She doesn’t judge if they don’t know the words,” Schiller said.

Although Schiller would like all kids to meet Sophie, and Sophie probably wouldn’t mind herself, it’s too many kids for one dog. So four boys in first, third, fourth and fifth grade are the ones who read to Sophie. Each session is about 15 minutes long.

One of the students is Camden Hughes, a 9-year-old fourth grader, who has been reading to Sophie for about a month and he’s just about to finish his first book with her. He enjoys reading to Sophie and sometimes she cuddles up right next to him.

“I just like dogs,” he said.

He has four dogs at home, but they don’t listen to reading like Sophie. The dogs at home and Sophie don’t seem to mind sniffing one another on Hughes’ clothes.

When the kids first started reading to Sophie, Schiller didn’t know if they would want to continue. After the first reading session she asked if they wanted Sophie to come back.

“They’ve all wanted to,” Schiller said.

Sophie feels the same way.

“She likes doing it,” Johnson said. “She likes to see people get excited and want to pet her.”

Johnson said Sophie likes the kids talking to her, petting her, and of course, getting treats. If kids are fidgety and can’t sit still, “she’s OK with that,” Johnson said. “She’s a nice calm presence, I think.”

“Very sweet disposition,” Schiller said.

Johnson also enjoys the visits with students and others they meet during their therapy sessions. Sometimes their visits at rehabilitation centers spark conversations with people about former dogs or hunting dogs.

“It’s good to hear their stories,” Johnson said.

Because Johnson is retired, she and Sophie can focus on going to different places in the community and visiting people. Johnson has trained Sophie, who has 10 hours of certification from Love on a Leash, one of many therapy dog organizations.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sophie wasn’t able to visit nursing homes and hospitals, so some of her training was on hold. The McSorley students help her practice with commands, hoping to get her a second certification. Soon she will also get her Canine Good Citizen medal, and when she does, Johnson will bring it in and show the kids.

Sophie’s large size means she can’t get on beds or people’s laps, so she’s learned the command “Visit,” upon which she puts her head on someone’s lap or rests her chin on the arm of a wheelchair so she can be petted. Sophie isn’t allowed to do other tricks, like “shake,” because of the risk of tearing someone’s skin, or giving doggy kisses, because of the risk of spreading germs. But she will touch her nose to someone’s cheek as a “kiss.”

Some things she didn’t need training for. Johnson said Sophie instinctively knew how much time people needed with her before moving on to the next person. When Sophie has worked with people with autism and they scream or yell, she remains calm and doesn’t get upset.

Johnson said Sophie has always had the temperament to be a good therapy dog.

“She thinks that’s what she’s on this earth for,” Johnson said.

Brewster may be contacted at kbrewster@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2297.