Welcome to Parenting Kids and Dogs 101, a limited series podcast for parents who live with kids and dogs, or plan to. Don't forget to grab the accompanying workbook at https://poochparenting.net/podcastworkbook/

When is the right time to get a puppy?

• Make an honest assessment of your schedule and life. Here are some questions you should consider.
• It's often difficult to raise a puppy alongside a baby or toddler. This is not an ideal time to get a puppy for some families, especially if you are uncomfortable with extra chaos and unpredictability.
• If you are considering adding a puppy to your family, I'd encourage you to wait until your children are at least 5 or 6 years old. They are able to follow your guidance at this age and can have safe, positive interactions with a dog with your support and with lots of management.

Should you get a puppy or an adult dog?

• Are you tolerant of sleep interruptions? If not, consider an adult dog who has the physical maturity to hold their bladder overnight and the emotional maturity to sleep through the night after they get used to their new home.
• Have you had a traumatic incident with a former dog that has left you feeling nervous about what your new dog will be like? If so, it might be helpful to foster-to-adopt a young adult dog (age 2 or older) so you can see what that dog is like.
• At social maturity, you will have a better idea of who the dog IS and who they WILL BE. After this developmental benchmark (potential traumatic events aside), you may be more likely to know if your dog is social with other dogs, if they like kids, if they are friendly when visitors come to the house, or if they are shy and nervous around normal household activities.
• If you really want a puppy...
  • Is it possible to meet the parents so that you can see what the pups' temperament and size might be like?
  • Have you met the breeder in person and seen their other dogs? Do you like them? Do they like your kids? Has the breeder done health testing to ensure that your dog is less likely to have skeletal, heart, breathing or eye issues?
  • If your potential pup is from a rescue, do they have any background information on the parents? Are they willing to take the dog back if it's unsafe around your kids in the future?
  • Are you willing to use management equipment in your home (even if it doesn't go with your home decor) and invest in training to prevent problems between your kids and puppies?

For more information and the rest of the show notes, please visit https://poochparenting.net/episode-15-when-is-the-right-time-to-get-a-puppy/

Thank you for listening!

• Want to learn more about Pooch Parenting and how we can help you?
• If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review on Apple Podcasts.
• Worried about Growling? Get my free guide: ABC's of Growling: https://poochparenting.net/abcs-of-growling/
• Looking for QUICK answers to your dog and child questions? Just ask and my custom tool will give you the answer: www.poochparenting.net/askpoochparenting

Overview - How to Choose a Dog

• Focus on the individual dog more than a specific breed
• Pick a friendly, confident dog who approaches your kids happily.
• Listen to my Pooch Parenting Podcast episode about how to pick a shelter dog for families with kids.
• See if you can foster-to-adopt or do a trial adoption. This option allows you to live with a dog for a few weeks to see if you are a good fit.
• Be aware that some shelters and rescue organizations do not adopt to families with children of any age. Some adopt to families with kids within a certain age range.

How to Choose a Dog that's a Good Fit For Your Family

• Know what you can afford. Here are some of the costs associated with having a dog:
  • the adoption or purchase price
  • veterinary care
  • quality food, treats, chews and toys
  • grooming costs (some breeds need to be groomed every 4-6 weeks)
• Be honest about your lifestyle. Are you active, preferring to go hiking or backpacking? Or are you more of a game night family, preferring to stay home and play board games? Your companion dog should match the lifestyle you currently live (not the lifestyle you wish you had!)
• Is your family calm or bustling, with a constant flow of houseguests or visitors? Are you the home that hosts the PTA parties and scout troop meetings? Your dog's personality should be compatible with the level of activity in your home.
• Shy or nervous dogs prefer to live in a quieter and more stable home. It would be their worst nightmare to have to attend your kids' weekly soccer games or other sports matches.

Dog Breeds well suited to family life

• I know I said earlier that you should focus more on the individual dog than the breed, in particular, that was only partially true.
• Breeds tend to have behavioral traits that can be fairly predictable due to their long history of being bred for specific characteristics.
• But it's crucial to note that there is individual variation within every breed, just as there are personality differences between siblings in any family. Some may be more "introverted" while others want to enthusiastically greet every creature they meet.
• If you want to pick a pure bred dog, choose one who was bred to be sociable with people.
• The "gun dog" group is a good example of dogs who were bred to work alongside people. This group includes retrievers, labradors, spaniels, setters and more.
• Gun dogs tend to be enthusiastic team players, but they can be hard to live with because of their long youth before maturation and their high levels of energy. Many people love their friendly nature but are unprepared for their high energy levels.
• Other breeds that tend to be good with families include the cavalier King Charles spaniel, beagle, basset, havanese, boxer and Bernese mountain dog.
• Note: do not buy a puppy from a website without vetting them. Ideally, you will visit the breeder and meet the p

Thank you for listening!

• Want to learn more about Pooch Parenting and how we can help you?
• If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review on Apple Podcasts.
• Worried about Growling? Get my free guide: ABC's of Growling: https://poochparenting.net/abcs-of-growling/
• Looking for QUICK answers to your dog and child questions? Just ask and my custom tool will give you the answer: www.poochparenting.net/askpoochparenting

Welcome to Parenting Kids and Dogs 101, a limited series podcast for parents who live with kids and dogs, or plan to. I'm your host, Michelle Stern, the founder of Pooch Parenting. I'm not just a certified professional dog trainer and former teacher, I'm a mom too. In each episode of this series, I hope you'll feel like I'm chatting with you, one parent to another, about life with kids and dogs, answering common questions my clients ask me, and giving you simple solutions to make your life easier and safer.

I hope you'll subscribe and join me for the whole series, and don't forget to grab the accompanying workbook at https://poochparenting.net/podcastworkbook/

What does dog jealousy look like?

• Every dog is unique and communicates differently.
• Jealousy is how a dog likely feels.
• Dogs can demonstrate jealousy by demonstrating a variety of behaviors, such as pawing, barking, licking, hovering, getting into your space, inserting their bodies between you and another person or dog, destructive behaviors (such as chewing inappropriate items).

What to do to prevent dog jealousy around kids

• Try to identify if your dog's needs are being met.
• Provide your dog with lots of enrichment, such as opportunities to chew, sniff, dig and exercise.
• If you can, give your dog some focused attention, such as when your kids are at school or asleep.
• Ask your dog for an alternate behavior. For example, if they are jumping on you, ask them to lay on a mat instead. Or if they are pawing you, ask them to spin so that they have something less harmful to do with their feet.
• Use management equipment such as gates or pens to limit where your dog can go if you are doing something sensitive with your child, such as changing a diaper on the floor or doing arts and crafts with the kids.
• Set up predictable routines for your dog so they know what to expect and can worry less
• If your dog displays his jealousy by demonstrating "naughty" behaviors, it's especially important that you never leave the dog and child alone.
• Even if you are in the same room with your dog and child while you are cooking, folding laundry, checking email or scrolling social media, you aren't fully paying attention. Being "there" isn't enough to keep your dog or child safe.
• If your dog is frustrated or acting out, you can't let your guard down (or even leave "for just a second" to go pee). If you aren't there, you aren't able to keep anyone safe.
• If it's impossible for you to give your dog some focused attention, get help! Can you hire a dog walker or have a neighbor take your dog on outings.

Thank you for listening!

• Want to learn more about Pooch Parenting and how we can help you?
• If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review on Apple Podcasts.
• Worried about Growling? Get my free guide: ABC's of Growling: https://poochparenting.net/abcs-of-growling/
• Looking for QUICK answers to your dog and child questions? Just ask and my custom tool will give you the answer: www.poochparenting.net/askpoochparenting