In this episode, I interview Lauren Haley, a new mom with a Pitbull named MJ. We discuss how she prepared MJ for the arrival of her daughter, along with what worked and what didn’t. Lauren is an applied behavior analyst with children, and uses her professional experience to help MJ to learn what behavior she wants repeated in the future.
Resources
- Relaxation Protocol by Dr. Karen Overall
- Preparing Dog for New Baby – Online Classes by Pooch Parenting
- On-Demand Workshop: Your First Week Home with Baby and Dog
- Self-paced online class: Preparing Dog for New Baby:
- Recommended Books:
- Please Don’t Bite the Baby (And Please Don’t Chase the Dog) by Lisa J. Edwards,
- Canine Enrichment for the Real World and
- When Pigs Fly
- (these are affiliate links and if you use them, I’ll earn a few pennies at no extra cost to you)
Lauren and I talk about the irony that parent would never allow their child to be unsupervised by a swimming pool (the reference comes from the book by Lisa J. Edwards), but are more than happy to leave the dog and child in the same room while they use the bathroom, make dinner, watch tv, or fold laundry. This graphic is a good example of why this isn’t a good idea.
Normally, I don’t like to show unsafe interactions between dogs and children because I want you to have better examples to follow. But in this case, I want to point out that the dog is leaning away from the baby. The jaw is clenched tight. And the ears are slightly back. All of these are indications that this dog is uncomfortable with the baby so close. This is NOT a safe interaction and an adult should be sitting between them or the baby should be behind a barrier to prevent them from approaching the nervous dog. Compare the tense appearance of the dog near the baby with MJ’s happy, soft expression. She is excited by something – her mom or a toy. But she is not worried – she is eager and happy.
Have a Question?
If you’ve got a question about your kids and dogs, go to www.speakpipe.com/PoochParenting and record it there just like a voicemail. And I will include it in a future episode.
If you’re looking for ongoing support for your family with dogs, be sure to get on the waiting list for my Thriving Parents of Kids and Dogs Membership.
If you enjoy these episodes or feel like they have made your family safer and less chaotic, feel free to buy me a coffee as a way of saying “Thanks!”
