Unlike other dogs trained for specific work, these therapy dogs don’t appear to do much. In a circle of students sitting on the floor learning to read by reciting simple sentences from paperbacks, Maverick and his colleague, Polly, a brown and white miniature Pinscher, mostly sniff the kids’ feet and wander around.

But the mere presence of the dogs’ affection — without a whiff of criticism — helps the young readers relax into learning. Their extensive training makes the dogs reliably calm, no matter the situation.

“We train for the unpredictable because that’s what the school environment is,” said Trisha Baker, founder of Attitudes in Reverse. “Is the dog going to be walking down the hall with hundreds of students, in chaos? Is there going to be a school shooting drill? We have to teach them to be calm and quiet during that.”

“Not every dog is able to fulfill the requirements. Sometimes dogs have anxiety themselves and are better off home on the sofa,” she added. “That’s perfectly okay.”