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/

Growling - What it means and how to prevent it

1. Growling is scary. But the good news is that it's communication
2. Growling can be compared to the yellow light of a traffic signal - it's a warning that something major is about to happen. Imagine how many accidents there would be if lights went straight from green to red.
3. Don't punish the growl - thank your dog for telling you they are uncomfortable
4. Look for the trigger - Get Curious
5. Why is your dog growling? Look around and see if you can spot what's troubling him.
6. Look for patterns and intervene before the growl
7. Remove the trigger, not your dog
8. By responding to your dog's body language and offering relief, your dog will trust that you will meet his needs
9. If your dog's behavior has changed suddenly, it's time to book an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out pain, a common cause of growling. 
10. Management is your best friend - use gates, pens and other barriers to give your dog space to avoid triggers that cause discomfort and growling

It's only natural for questions about our kids and dogs to arise from time to time, especially as our babies grow up and our dogs mature. And if I'm being honest, it's not really worth asking for free advice from friends or online because you can't rely on the accuracy of the feedback you are getting. If you'd like to learn more about The Pooch Parenting Society, where I offer practical life and science-based tips and strategies, ongoing support and a safe place to share, head on over to www.safekidsanddogs.com. From one parent to another, I see you and I promise, you're not alone.

If you have questions about your kids and dogs or would like to book an appointment, participate in a group coaching program or take an online class, visit my website: www.poochparenting.net