The Associated Press

AKRON, Ohio - In Renee Smith's classroom, attendance is up, trips to the principal's office are down and students are handing in assignments on time.

The Springfield High School teacher says she's seen great progress since adding a few new students to her class - five Labrador puppies and their father.

The seven human students in Ms. Smith's class have a history of discipline problems. But since they've started teaching the dogs obedience, their own behavior has improved, Ms. Smith told the Akron Beacon Journal.

On a recent morning, students worked quietly at their desk while the 5-month-old puppies dozed nearby in handmade wooden crates. When Ms. Smith announced it was training time, the teenagers formed a circle in the middle of the room with the puppies sitting beside them.

Each one took a turn leading a puppy into the center of the circle and showing how well the dog had learned to sit, stay, lie down and come to them when called.

Then it was time for a bathroom break. Plastic bags in hand, the students took the dogs outside for a few minutes to take care of business and to play. Then it was back inside.

Chuck Reynolds, a dog trainer, teaches the students a new trick each week that they then work on with the puppies.

At night, the dogs go home with the staff members who have adopted them. They get dropped off in the morning, much as a parent would take a child to day care.

Ms. Smith said she came up with the idea when her dog had puppies and she saw how well her own children responded to them.

She consulted with school psychologist Kristin Edinger, and they took the idea - along with letters from students supporting the program - to the school board.

School officials say they're impressed with the program's results.

One student who previously refused to do any work is now regularly finishing assignments. Another student who often skipped school hasn't missed a day - and even called her teacher at home once to ask for a ride.

No students have been sent to the principal's office because of discipline problems. Before, there were as many as five office referrals a day.

" The original plan was for a 10-week program that would end in mid-January.

But because of the results, school officials are considering keeping the dogs at the school through the end of the school year.