Rowdy and his owner, Ralph Holzhauer, both work at Elizabethtown Louis Central School. As Ralph teaches math, you can find Rowdy in his section of the classroom, listening to younger students read. Rowdy isn't the typical dog, and has a schedule just like any other student or teacher does.

Ralph and Rowdy's classroom is located right across from the occupational therapy room at school. Rowdy's ears are very sensitive to any crying sounds, and is alert throughout the day. “As soon as Rowdy hears crying he will get up and go see what is the matter with the students and do anything he can to comfort them,” said Ralph.

“As soon as Rowdy hears crying he will get up and go see what is the matter with the students and do anything he can to comfort them."

A few times a week, Rowdy also attends gym class. The kindergartners attach little platforms with wheels on the bottom to a jump rope, and Rowdy gives them rides around the gymnasium. As Ralph teaches high school math during the day, second and third graders frequently come into the classroom with books and plop themselves next to Rowdy to read together. “A lot of students who have problems reading in groups feel comfortable around Rowdy and actually read books that nobody expects them to in front of him,” said Ralph. Even with Rowdy's reading sessions in Ralph's math class, Ralph said that the students are actually more focused toward the front of the room, where Rowdy is. “Rowdy definitely doesn't disturb my class, and if anything I find Rowdy has a positive influence on the class,” he says.

Within his busy schedule, Rowdy is very aware of all the students and teachers during the day. “If Rowdy sees the PE teacher in the wrong hallway during the day, he will let out a woof to let him know,” said Ralph. You can also find Rowdy in the cafeteria, where the lunch ladies sneak him treats during the day.

“If Rowdy sees the PE teacher in the wrong hallway during the day, he will let out a woof to let him know.”

Some of you may think that having a 140 pound Newfoundland walking around classrooms with children all day sounds unsafe. But, Rowdy is recognized by the Delta Society, which requires a dog to pass several obedience tests and go through intense training. Rowdy is also trained for water safety and rescue and passed his first test when he was just ten months old.

So what is Rowdy doing in Plattsburgh? Ralph and Rowdy visit local preschools to do a little reading with the children and teach them the right way to approach and pet dogs. Although Ralph reads to them, the students are usually zoned in on Rowdy. After the reading is done all the students line up to pet Rowdy the proper way, and every now and then, Rowdy will lick a toddler off their feet. Aside from preschools, Ralph and Rowdy also visit local nursing homes as well.

If you missed your chance to see Rowdy, hopefully he will be coming back up for a few recesses at the preschool and will be more than happy to tug around a few children on a trolley.

For now, Rowdy continues attending classes. For those you that are wondering, Rowdy does go to graduation and actually won the award for perfect attendance last year.

Do you know any Newfoundlands in the area?

Newfoundlands:

This breed is one of the few to come from Newfoundland Island in Canada, where they were said to have first arrived with the British and French fisherman who reached these North Atlantic shores. They were bred by the early settlers to pull sleds, hunt, and guard. They adapted to the rugged conditions of Newfoundland by developing webbed feet and an oily coat, which allows them to remain in the water for long periods of time. Today they are popular as a household pet throughout Europe and North America.

Weight : 110-150 lbs.

Temperament : Very responsive and docile. Good with children.

Life span : About ten years.