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 […]
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 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
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?
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
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
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 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.