Pregnancy is an amazing time for all family members. There are many new experiences and emotions that will be shared and experienced. All too often our canine family members are not included. Many families believe it best that they re-home their dog due to the changes and not knowing how to manage it all. Many families have concerns about safety. It is rare that a dog can not stay safely in its current home after the arrival of a baby. There are many proactive steps that can be taken ahead of time to help things go smoothly. Obedience, leadership as well as management are all essential to providing a safe and comfortable environment for all.

It is strongly recommended that you attend an obedience class regardless of the age of the dog. Obedience encourages bonding, self control and mental stimulation. Shop around and find a program that fits your goals and needs. I recommend you start by gathering information about dog trainers in your area. A helpful website is The Association of Pet Dog Trainers. (www.apdt.com). Here you will obtain much information and will know a bit more of what to look for in regards to a training and manners program. There are many wonderful trainers. Take your time and select the one that listens and understands your family goals.

Leadership is essential to our canine companions. It is important that your dog knows he can trust you to be the “leader.” When you bring a dog into your family you become their pack. The leader of the pack communicates a sense of safety and trust that makes it clear to the dog that things are under control. It is important that the dog knows that his leader is capable of handling this role or the dog may decide to take charge himself. Many times confusion about leadership roles can lead to undesirable behavior and sometimes injury.

Leaders: Have control of the resources the dogs need, crave and enjoy. Asking your dog to sit, down, perform several commands will help communicate you are the leader. Here are some examples of ways you can be a leader.

1. Decide when you want to feed your dog, not allowing them to “control” this by barking, nudging or any other demanding behavior.
2. Having your dog/s sit and wait for a release command before entering or exiting your home.
3. Having your dog walk close to you allows you to monitor the environment and keeps your dog close in case of a passer by, loose dog, running child or any other potential situation.
4. Ignore demanding behavior for your attention such as pawing, nudging, whining.
5. Keep playtime fun but under control. Your ability to regain your dogs attention when excited is very important and a great demonstration of leadership.
6. Demonstrate overall confidence in expectations.
7. After being away, calmly return to the pack without a fuss or huge greeting celebration.

If you are having issues with your dog you may want to consider how leadership is represented in your home. This combined with obedience can lead to a successful and harmonious relationship. If you feel that you may be having issues regarding leadership in your home, I suggest you contact a canine behavior consultant or trainer prior to the arrival of your baby. If you have experienced aggressive behavior with your dog please consult your vet. You may need to seek the help of a behaviorist in your area. Your vet can help guide you in the right direction. Many dogs respond extremely well with obedience and leadership well established. There may still be times however that management is necessary for all.

Management may still be necessary with your dog. There will be many visitors and lots of commotion during the time of the baby’s birth. If you have a dog that is fearful of guests and you have people over, you may choose to “manage” the situation and remove the dog to a quiet secure space where he feels safe. Setting our dogs up for success is key. Allowing them to practice a negative behavior is reinforcing that behavior. There are times that crating and removing the dog may be temporarily a better solution instead of risking a negative consequence or a chance to practice unwanted behavior. If you choose to crate the dog please keep in mind that this is not punishment. It is allowing a safe place for your dog. Reinforce this by providing a special treat for them each time they are in their crate. Stuffing a toy with peanut butter and kibble is one idea. There are many ways to make this a positive and welcoming den for your dog.

It has been our experience that with leadership, obedience and management, canine family members welcome the arrival of a baby with wagging tails! After all, their leaders are happy so they should be too! Congratulations and enjoy!

Family Paws encourages you to never leave an infant or child unsupervised with a dog or puppy! Even good dogs have tolerance limits. Expecting a child and dog to “work it out” is not realistic and can be extremely dangerous! Always be aware of the interaction between your child and any dog. Any dog no matter their breed, color, size, age and past experiences can lead to an amazingly great outcome or potentially dangerous outcome. Your involvement and instincts play an important role!

For More information please contact Jennifer Shryock at jen@familypaws.com or visit http://www.familypaws.com to learn more!

Potty training is easier and happens faster if your child is truly ready in all three areas: physical, cognitive and social. But the big question is: how do you know when your child is ready? If you have never traveled this road before, you likely don’t even know what signs to look for. Take this quiz to find out where your child is on the readiness spectrum.

1. I can tell by watching that my child is wetting or filling his diaper:

a. Never.
b. Sometimes.
c. Usually.

2. My toddler’s diaper needs to be changed:

a. Frequently, every hour or two.
b. It varies.
c. Every two to three hours–sometimes less frequently.

3. My child understands the meaning of wet, dry, clean, wash, sit, and go:

a. No.
b. Some of them.
c. Yes.

4. When my child communicates her needs, she:

a. Says or signs a few basic words and I guess the rest.
b. Gets her essential points across to me.
c. Has a good vocabulary and talks to me in sentences.

5. If I give my child a simple direction, such as, “put this in the toy box,” she:

a. Doesn’t understand or doesn’t follow directions.
b. Will do it if I coach or help her.
c. Understands me and does it.

6. My child can take his pants off and put them on:

a. No.
b. With help he can.
c. Yes.

7. When I read a book to my child, he:

a. He ignores me.
b. Sometimes listens, sometimes wanders off.
c. Sits, listens and enjoys the story.

8. My toddler wants to do things “all by myself”:

a. Never.
b. Sometimes.
c. All the time!

9. I think that it’s the right time to begin potty training:

a. No.
b. I’m undecided.
c. Yes.

Total the number of responses for each letter:

a. __________

b. __________

c. __________

Most answers are a: Wait.

Your little one doesn’t seem to be ready just yet. Test again in a month or two.

Most answers are b: Time for pre-potty training–get ready!

Your child is not quite ready for active training, but you can take many steps to prepare your toddler for the future. Gradual introduction of terms and ideas will make potty training easier when the time comes.

Most answers are c: Your toddler is ready to use the potty!

It’s time to start your potty training adventure. Good luck, and have fun!

Are you between two scores?

Just like any parenting situation, there are choices to make. If your child is hovering between two categories, it’s time to put your intuition to good use. Your knowledge of your own child can direct you toward the right plan of action.

This article is an excerpt from The No-Cry Potty Training Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Child Say Good-Bye to Diapers by Elizabeth Pantley.

About the author:
Elizabeth Pantley is the author of several books, including Gentle Baby Care : No-cry, No-fuss, No-worry — Essential Tips for Raising Your Baby, The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night, Kid Cooperation (with an introduction by William Sears, MD), Perfect Parenting, as well as her latest The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers and is also president of Better Beginnings, Inc. She is a popular speaker on family issues, and her newsletter, Parent Tips, is seen in schools nationwide. She appears as a regular radio show guest, and has been quoted in Parents, Parenting, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, American Baby, Working Mother, and Woman’s Day magazines. Visit Elizabeth’s web site http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth.