Expectant Parent Preparation
For a lot of couples, dogs are often the first baby, so when you discover you are expecting, it can bring up a lot of anxiety about how to prepare your dog (and yourself!) for the changes ahead. How am I supposed to introduce them? Will I have enough time to spend with my dog? Will my dog be jealous and act out? How do I keep my baby safe around my dog?
Through in-home coaching, we will teach you best practices to ensure safety and preparedness for your whole family.
Child and Dog Conflict Support
Child-dog conflict sessions are for families who are concerned about their dog’s reactions to their child. Maybe a growl, snap, or bite has occurred.
This is also a great option for parents who are feeling overwhelmed and that their dog may be “better off” in another home without kids.
Through 1:1 in-home coaching, we can help your life with kids and dogs shift from chaos to calm. We will work with you to address issues you are experiencing through practical strategies tailored to your family’s unique needs.
Workshops
Dogs and Storks®
Dogs & Storks® is a one-hour workshop for new and expecting families with dogs. In this presentation, you will learn how to best prepare with your family dog for your baby’s homecoming. Situations that put young children at risk and cause family dogs to lose their homes can occur even with the best intentions, but these common problems can be preventable with a good plan from the start.
It’s common to have questions and concerns. Should we bring home the blanket? Will my dog be jealous of the baby? Do we have to change where our dog sleeps? How do we introduce our dog and baby? What can we do to prepare? These questions and more will be covered as we discuss how best to facilitate a smooth homecoming for your whole family. In addition, attendees will become familiar with their dog’s subtle communication signals, consider their dog’s learning history and sensitivities, and walk away with tips to get started immediately as they work to set up their homes for success.
This course is designed for expectant families, families who are adopting a baby, and anyone who has dogs and cares for infants up to three months of age. The class is for people only, please leave your dogs at home.
Dogs and Toddlers
Dogs & Toddlers is a one-hour workshop for families with dogs and babies as they prepare for mobility. In this presentation, you will learn how to best set up your home environment and support your dog through your baby’s mobility and toddler stages and beyond. Situations that put young children at risk and cause family dogs to lose their homes can occur even with the best intentions, but these common problems can be preventable with a good plan from the start.
It’s common to become complacent as you settle into routines with your dog and baby, however early mobility and the toddler stage bring unique challenges that can easily result in miscommunication and conflict with your dog, leading to growls and bites. Strengthening you understanding of your dog’s communication signals, becoming aware of spatial considerations in the home environment, considering your child’s developmental processes, and looking at how your individual dog responds to the barrage of new stimuli that come during this stage are essential to building and sustaining a safe and positive relationship between your dog and child.
Attendees will walk away with tips to get started immediately as they work to set up their homes for success.
This class is designed for families with babies preparing for mobility, families with toddlers, caregivers who manage dogs and children together, or anyone who would like to better understand the unique challenges that come with dogs and babies 3 months to 3 years of age. Remember: babies grow, dogs age…adjust at every stage. This class is for people only, please leave dogs at home.