A Family Paws Interview: Why I Became A Dog Trainer

Furthering my passion for helping to strengthen the relationship between families and their dog, a few years ago, I pursued and graduated from a 13-week program to become a licensed Family Paws parent educator. A new baby, toddler or young child can be stressful for the family dog. Family Paws helps parents of infants and […]

Should You Bring Home The Baby Blanket For Your Dog To Sniff?

This post is for young families that include a dog. As an expecting parent, will it help your dog to accept your newborn baby if you bring home the baby blanket for your dog to sniff – in advance? Here are some parenting tips to consider when it comes to minimizing family dog stress, dog and child safety, and dog training for new parents.

This post is for young families that include a dog. As an expecting parent, will it help your dog to accept your newborn baby if you bring home the baby blanket for your dog to sniff – in advance?  Here are some parenting tips to consider when it comes to minimizing family dog stress, dog […]

Consider Growly Zones In Dog Management

Whether you have a family dog that includes kids and a dog or are a multi-dog household, consider growly zones as an important dog management consideration.

Infant And Dog: Is This Affection Or Kiss To Dismiss?

How often it is that I see pictures or videos with scenes like this one of a stressed dog and an infant. Usually, the caption refers to how the dog is comforting the baby or how the dog is being friends with the infant. I can understand how a parent who is not Dog Aware* may see that. Parents want their dog and child to be friends. It is a natural line of thinking for these parents to think the dog body language is saying, “I love you.” The reality is, this may be an instant of Kiss to Dismiss. As a licensed Family Paws parent educator, I want to encourage you to look at this interaction between dog and infant differently.

How often it is that I see pictures or videos with scenes like this one of an infant and dog. Usually, the caption refers to how the dog is comforting the baby or how the dog is being friends with the infant. I can understand how a parent who is not Dog Aware* may see […]

Dog Success Stations Prevent Problem Behaviors

Success Stations (coined by my teacher/mentor Jen Shryock of Family Paws) are management strategies for kids and dogs (and puppies) aimed at preventing problem behaviors BEFORE those behaviors become a THING.

If you are a parent, you more than likely already know this. Parenting can be even more challenging when your family includes a baby, infant or kids and a dog. Even if human kids are not part of the mix, raising a puppy can have its frustrations, absolutely! Dog Success Stations (coined by my teacher/mentor […]

Should A Child Lay On A Sleeping Dog?

Parents, please do not encourage or allow your child to lay on your sleeping dog.

It is so easy to find photos and videos of kids and dogs like this online. A young child showing affection to her dog by laying on top of her family dog while he is sleeping. In this image, it even looks like it may have been posed. In other words, someone (perhaps a parent […]

Parents, Please Teach Kids, Do Not Hug Your Family Dog

Parents: Please Teach Your Kids, Do Not Hug Your Family Dog

Often kids mean well with their interactions with your dog (or other dogs) but they can do things – like hugging – that can cause dogs to feel uncomfortable.   A lesson for parents of a kids and a dog: please teach your children this important relationship building lesson – DO NOT HUG YOUR FAMILY DOG. […]

Parents: You Are Always Modeling Behavior

parenting tip: you are always modeling behavior for your kids. Be Dog Aware and teach your child to be Dog Aware of how to interact appropriately and read your dog's body language.

Parents, it is important that you remember, you are ALWAYS modeling behavior for your child to learn. The way that your child sees you behaving around others is very likely to be repeated. When you do things to or around your dog (or other non-human animal), your son or daughter may end up doing that […]

Dog Stress Around Kids: Proximity Matters

dog bite prevention myth: A child has to be directly interacting with a dog before a potential problem can occur.

Dog Bite Prevention Myth About Dogs And Kids: A child has to be directly interacting with a dog before a potential problem can occur.  This past fall/early winter, I completed a 13-week program to be certified as a Family Paws parent educator. This topic was a discussion point in one of our group calls.

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