Pooch Parenting

If you are a birth worker, such as a doula, midwife, lactation consultant or night nurse, who sees clients in their own homes, there is a very good chance that you will interact with family pets. Because families are hiring you to help them ease their transition into new parenthood, their pets (dogs, in particular) will play a large part into the new family dynamic. And let's be honest - they...

Moms are often very busy, so it's understandable that they might try to do family outings that meet the needs of their kids and dogs at the same time. But unfortunately, dog parks are not a safe place to bring children. So, if the question ever enters your mind, "should I bring the kids with me to the dog park?", please opt out and consider what else might be an appropriate outing....

The single most prevalent piece of dog and newborn advice that I see on social media is for people to bring home the hospital baby blanket for your dog to sniff before baby comes home. I wanted to bust this myth and to share how at the very best, this misguided advice could be neutral...and at the worst, it could even be dangerous. Why people advise to bring home the hospital baby blanket for your...

If your toddler is a little Jack-in-the-box and gets out of bed several times a night, you are not alone. But if you have a dog, we need to consider how to prevent interactions between your toddler and pup in the middle of the night when you aren't supervising.  Why do toddlers get out of bed at night? They are going through a developmental shift which interrupts their sleep. They need to be...

If you have ever wondered if your dog should be licking your baby in the face or what to do about it, this is the episode for you. I discuss what dog licks might mean, why it might not be such a good idea, and why bringing in a dog expert might help you to get more clarity. Why do dogs lick babies? Babies taste good to dogs. They might taste like milk or even spit up. Yum! Dogs are curious and lik...

Worrying about how your dog will respond to your new baby might keep you up at night. Lots of people who are pregnant, adopting or using a surrogate experience the same thing. Fortunately for you, there are specialists, like me, who can help you to prepare your dog for new baby ahead of time.  In my new free guide, 5 Essential Steps to Prepare Your Dog for New Baby , I share simple "recipes&q...

What if my dog doesn’t like my baby? What if my dog accidentally hurts my kids? What if my kids accidentally hurt our dog? When should we add a puppy to our family? Am I a horrible person if I feel like it’s too hard to parent kids and dogs at the same time? If you’re a dog mom who’s having a baby soon, who’s worrying about how your dog responds to your newly mobile toddler, who’s considering addi...

In this episode, I want to normalize the BIG worries that expecting parents with dogs often have about integrating their fur babies with their newborns. Having a growing family leads to HUGE feelings...for all family members, dogs included. It's a mistake to assume that dogs will "get used to it" without adequate preparation ahead of time. Unless parents get empathetic, supportive a...

In today's episode I'm talking with Mary Peterson Cook about RV travel and RV life on the road with kids and dogs. As summer winds down, you might be hitting the road for one last adventure before school begins. RV travel is a fantastic option for families with kids and dogs, but there are some safety issues that you should know about ahead of time. So whether you need to hear this now o...

In today's episode I'm going out on a limb here to make a grand statement about THE Biggest mistake dog moms make before adding a baby to their family. Listen to the episode to find out what it is... The episode includes these topics: we can't predict how our dog will feel once baby arrives if they live in a child free home now you have not seen how your dog behaves when living full...

In episode 72 of the Pooch Parenting Podcast, I share brief stories of 4 recent clients so you can see examples of the types of people who choose to work with a dog and child specialist. Lots of dog trainers are generalists who have skills that can help you a little bit with a lot of challenging situations. But if you have a specific challenge, such as living with kids and dogs at the same time, a...

In this episode of the Pooch Parenting Podcast, I'm discuss a wonderful shift that's taking place in the dog training and behavior industry. It's called Family Dog Mediation and I learned about it from Kim Brophey, an applied ethologist and one of my colleagues. Her revolutionary LEGS model introduces us to the basic foundational system of elements that direct the behavior of every...

In today's episode of the Pooch Parenting Podcast, we hear a question from a concerned mom whose dog snapped at her toddler and knocked him down. She says, "I'm scared" and I don't know what to do. She is worried that she would be crushed to rehome him, but that she also doesn't want to live in fear of her child getting hurt.  Topics on this episode include: why dogs...

In this episode of The Pooch Parenting Podcast, we tackle the common dilemma of where to place your puppy's crate for optimal crate training. While many sources recommend placing the crate in the family room or the busiest area of the house, this may not always be the best choice for every family and every puppy. We explore the pros and cons of different crate placement options for families w...

In today's episode of The Pooch Parenting Podcast, I am partnering with my friend Corinne of The Doodle Pro™ . She shares a question with me from one of the members from The Doodle Pro's Honor Society about a maltipoo who is growling at their 7 year old daughter. Join us as we dive into doodle dog behavior, how to read body language, and what to do about growling. Topics on this episode...

In today's episode of The Pooch Parenting Podcast, I'm responding to a concern faced by one of my students. She signed up for my Parenting Toddlers and Dogs online class after her dog growled at her toddler. Most baby books don't prepare parents for incidents like these, and it's often quite shocking when your "first baby" (your dog!) growls at your child! Luckily, yo...

In today's episode of The Pooch Parenting Podcast, I'm responding to two listener questions. One is from a parent and the other is from a dog training professional. Both inquire about 3-year old children who were bitten by their family dogs in the face. I discuss what could have contributed to this behavior and how to prevent it in the future. I also talk about some mindset shifts famili...

I have a series of posts on my Pooch Parenting Facebook page that all discuss different "Unpopular Opinions" related to dogs and children. My most recent post in the series generated some really interesting conversations about where people actually get their dogs and who should influence which dog a family selects.  New dog topics on this episode include: different ways that people get n...

This week's podcast episode is an excerpt from a live conversation that I had with a panel of Licensed Family Dog Mediators and Family Dog Specialists. This lively discussion includes Justine, founder of The Family Dog, Jennifer, founder of Family Paws, and Debby, founder of KAD, Kids Around Dogs. We talk about different strategies about how to make Halloween less spooky for your family dog....

In today's interview, I speak with Norma Roth, co-author of the Lovable Lucy book series for early readers. She and her daughter wrote this series together about life with their beloved dog, Lucy. Together, they share stories about dogs that are relatable to all children.  The Lovable Lucy series promotes: problem solving confidence building inclusivity a sense of belonging and kindness langu...

In today's interview, I read an email from a listener. She asked, "Is my dog racist?" Topics we cover include: what is racism can a dog be racist factors that contribute to dog behavior cultural differences that might impact how dogs feel should you leave your dog home sometimes how to expose your dog to new stimuli Michelle of Pooch Parenting is now retired. Thank you for the suppo...

In today's interview, I speak with Corinne Gearhart, The Doodle Pro™. We discuss Doodles - the "breed" people love to hate. Corinne is the host of the highly rated and popular The Doodle Pro™ Podcast that has most recently ranked #3 on the genre's US. Apple chart. She has personally worked with hundreds of doodle mixes over thousands of visits in Colorado, where she founded and...

In today's interview, I speak with Dr. Kris Freeark, child psychologist, family therapist and adoption educator. We chat about setting up appropriate expectations for dog families who are adopting a child. Helping adoptive parents have realistic expectations around welcoming a new child (of whatever age) into the family, is critical to the family's success. Recognizing the adjustments in...

In today's episode, I talk about parent expectations for relatives when it comes to dog and child interactions. My friend shared a dramatic incident with me that she saw online between a set of parents and grandparents. The woman asked, "Am I in the wrong if I ask my in-laws to keep their dog away from our toddler?"  Family dynamics can be difficult, but it's important that we...

In today's interview, I speak with Lisa Lyle Waggoner, author of The Original Rocket Recall. We chat about building strong relationships and recall with your dog. Having a dog who can be off leash and have a reliable recall is the holy grail of dog training. While it's something that many of us aspire to, it's not always safe. Sometimes a dog being off leash is dangerous because of...