Batman the greyhound helps pupils read

Batman is a failed racing greyhound that has become Britain’s only ‘reading dog’ - he helps infant school children speed through books. Batman travels the country improving reading skills and is said to have had an extraordinary effect on youngsters. The five-year-old pet is the only British dog registered with the American organisation Reading Education Assistance Dogs.

Batman, who briefly raced under the name Flying Batman and never won, is successful because he ‘listens’ and bonds with children. He even paws the pages as they read. One of the schools where he helps, Arden Forest Infant School in Bedworth, Warwickshire, said he had produced incredible results.



‘We have had children that have been really introverted that have come out of their shells when they’ve met him,’ said reception teacher Debra Gage. ‘He puts his paw on the page and he’s very gentle with them, it helps them interact and they just enjoy sitting and talking with him. When children come into school they can find it quite scary and they don’t often respond to adults. They bond straight away with Batman because they don’t feel nervous with him because of his manner.’

Owner Kelly Bakewell, who trains dogs in Bulkington, Warwickshire, bought Batman when he was 15 months old. ‘When I had him at Crufts a few years ago he went straight over to a disabled child and put his head on him,’ the 23-year-old said. ‘So I knew he had something.’