A lot of my clients seem to be very uncomfortable with the idea of separating their dog and child for safety reasons. But I recently had an epiphany - they all assumed that separation was the same as isolation. And it's not.

Using management strategies, such as using a pen to cordon off an area for a child to play, provide separation between the dog and child. But neither the dog or child is isolated. Everyone can still see each other. The parent can still interact with everyone. And with time and patience, everyone can be very comfortable and safe with such an arrangement.

So now, I am always reminding clients that "Separation is not the same as isolation." It's simply a way for parents to function and do the impossibly difficult job of raising kids and dogs together.

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

I recently heard from a family whose rescue dog bit their young child. They told me that they have a "one bite policy" with pet dogs and that now the dog needs to go. While I completely understand their rule and their decision, I like to encourage families to consider the WHOLE situation, both from the human perspective and from the dog's perspective. Dog bites are awful, but they are also often quite complicated with several mitigating factors.

One Bite Policy From the Family's Perspective

1. Download this free guide to understand why your dog might growl: ABC's of Growling: https://poochparenting.net/abcs-of-growling/
2. It's terrifying when a dog bites a child and the trauma can be hard to recover from
3. A child deserves to feel physically and emotionally safe at home
4. Parents already have a lot on their plate and sometimes it's easier to limit complications to make life easier and safer
5. Dog behavior can be confusing and it's easy to miss subtle signs of stress in dogs
6. It can be confusing if a dog bites a child "who was just trying to pet her." From the parent's perspective the child's behavior is no big deal - but dogs don't bite for no reason. It's important to consider "the why" - was the dog in pain, afraid, startled awake from a deep sleep or disturbed while chewing a bone?
7. Parents might not know the learning or genetic history of a rescue dog, inadvertently bringing a fearful, nervous or anxious dog into their home.
8. Kids are hard. Their behavior changes constantly as they grow and develop, and it can be hard to stay on top of polite and respectful behavior around animals.
9. Having a "one bite policy" gives parents a clear guideline to follow, so they don't get confused by their conflicting emotions.
10. When parents are afraid of their child or visitors getting hurt again in the future, they may not be willing to consider that bites can be prevented with adequate management, working with a dog and child specialist or learning to read dog body language
11. Rehoming a dog does NOT mean you don't love them. Sometimes loving an animal means setting them up for success elsewhere.

One Bite Policy From the Dog's Perspective

• Kids can be scary and unpredictable.
• A rescue dog may have arrived with past trauma related to inappropriate behavior by children.
• A dog who doesn't feel safe expresses themself by demonstrating a variety of body language - some subtle and some quite overt.
• By biting a child, dogs can often stop the child from being disrespectful.
• It should not be the dog's responsibility to stop a child from being a perceived threat. That's the role of the adults.
• Dogs don't usually bite for no reason. It's important for people to get curious about what the possible causes could have been.
• A single bite may not be adequate at determining if the dog should remain in the home. Some dogs bite for good reason and some types bites can be prevented in the future by using effective management and learning to read dog body language

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

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 are hiring you because you are a baby expert...not because you are a dog expert. And why should you be? But the truth of the matter is that you may notice some unsafe behavior in the family dog that worries you about the future safety of the new baby...and the sanity of the new parents. In this podcast episode, I discuss what red flags to look for in dogs before baby comes home, and what to do if you are concerned about dog and baby safety.

Dog Red Flags for In-Home Birth Workers

1. Download this free guide outlining which red flags in dogs dogs might ultimately impact dog and baby safety: https://poochparenting.net/baby-professionals/
2. If your client says:
   • "my dog doesn't like kids."
   • "my dog is reactive and I am worried about his response to baby"
   • "our dog has a bite history."
   • "I wish I understood my dog better."
   • "I'm worried our dog will be jealous / overprotective of the new baby."
3. If YOU feel unsafe around the dog at any point working with this family, entering their home, or even when you get up to leave
4. If the dog currently sleeps in your client's bed or in the room where the baby will be sleeping

What to do if parents need extra support

• Refer out to a dog and child specialist, such as me at Pooch Parenting.
• Sometimes, dogs need medical support in order to make more progress with issues like anxiety and fear. Working in combination with me and a veterinary behaviorist can often offer the relief families and their dogs need to provide a safe environment for baby to thrive.
• The Animal Behavior Clinic in Portland, Oregon is an excellent option for veterinary behavior support. Even if you don't live in Oregon, they may be able to share their expertise and collaborate with your own local vet.

I also discuss some simple tips for bringing baby home to meet the dog, why bringing home a baby blanket from the hospital is not a good idea, and where dogs should sleep.

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