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/

Enrichment Builds Relationships

• Not all playtime with kids and dogs has to involve them touching each other
• Kids can be involved in the care of their dog and this builds relationships too
• Kids can stuff food toys like Kongs and Toppl's, spreading ingredients on lickimats, making enrichment toys out of the items in the recycling bin
• Making enrichment food toys for dogs can improve kids fine and gross motor skills
• Spreading ingredients can be excellent sensory input for children because it involves the scents and textures of different ingredients

Safe Games and Playtime for Kids and Dogs

• Kids can throw balls or pieces of food from the other side of a barrier
• Toddlers and younger kids can roll balls on the floor or over the top of the coffee table while the dog chases it on the other side
• Games like Freeze Dance or Red Light Green Light are fun to play as a family with the dog and rely on rewarding the dog for sitting or laying down when family members go still
• Blowing meat-flavored bubbles for dogs

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/

• Changes in routine can be difficult for dogs
• Dogs like predictability – it helps them know what to expect and to relax, knowing that YOU have things under control
• Practice ahead of time – especially before big life changes

Helping Dogs to Adjust to Start of School Year Routines

• Try to plan ahead as much as possible to make your routine as predictable as possible.
• The more frantic you feel, the less well you will be able to attend to your dog or children’s needs
• For school, try packing lunches and prepping breakfast ingredients in batches ahead of time and laying out clothing the night before
• Give your dog a frozen toppl or kong while you are busy; keep them behind a barrier so they don’t get in your way as you try to accomplish morning tasks
• Use a programmable coffee maker so that you can wake up to hot coffee already made

Helping Dogs to Adjust their Routines Before Baby

• Adjust your mindset and admit that your baby will likely take priority some of the time (you still love your dog and will be amazing as a dog parent, but if there is a diaper disaster, you will attend to that first before feeding the dog)
• Practice feeding and walking at slightly different times of the day
• Set up safety equipment in advance – will the dog be in a new zone some times of the day that they aren’t in now?
• Identify where you want your dog to sleep and practice any changes early so that your dog does not make any associations to the change with the arrival of baby

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/

Keeping Dogs Physically Stimulated

• Physical stimulation for dogs can include walks, hikes, running, swimming, playing with other dogs, playing active games with us, and more...
• It can be difficult for parents, especially with infants or young children, to leave the house to get their dogs exercise
• You can hire a dog walker to get your dogs out
• You can hire a babysitter so YOU can take your dogs out for physical exercise and bonding with your dog

Keeping Dogs Mentally Stimulated

• Mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise
• Mental stimulation can include: food puzzles, games, training sessions, nose or scent work, playing hide and seek, learning tricks, doing therapy work, finding food scattered in the house or yard
• It's often easier for overwhelmed parents to offer their dogs mental stimulation than it is to provide physical exercise - it can be easier to do at home and if you are recovering from childbirth
• Taking slow walks with your dog in new places or even in your neighborhood, and letting them sniff as much as they want

Aim for "Good Enough" Parenting

• perfect parenting is a myth
• do the best you can and say goodbye to mom guilt because you are making an effort

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