Moms are often very busy, so it's understandable that they might try to do family outings that meet the needs of their kids and dogs at the same time. But unfortunately, dog parks are not a safe place to bring children. So, if the question ever enters your mind, "should I bring the kids with me to the dog park?", please opt out and consider what else might be an appropriate outing.

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

The single most prevalent piece of dog and newborn advice that I see on social media is for people to bring home the hospital baby blanket for your dog to sniff before baby comes home. I wanted to bust this myth and to share how at the very best, this misguided advice could be neutral...and at the worst, it could even be dangerous.

Why people advise to bring home the hospital baby blanket for your dog to smell

1. They think that simply smelling something will build a positive association
2. It's doable, which must be better than nothing, right?
3. In dog training, we often expose dogs to certain stimuli to make positive associations. So the same concept should apply here, right? (hint - NO)

Risks of bringing home the baby blanket for the dog to sniff

• This step is rushed and no effort is made to pair the blanket with good things from the dog's perspective
• If a parent leaves the blanket unattended with the dog, it could be used as a dog bed, could be torn up or used to play tug - all of which could be dangerous when baby comes home and wears a blanket later
• The blanket smells like the hospital, nursing staff, and many other pungent odors - what is the dog really smelling?
• It can get the dog too excited about the arrival of the baby later. 

Other supportive resources for parents with dogs

Looking for some confidence about navigating life with your dog and newborn? Get on the waitlist for Paws to Pacifiers, my live 6-week small group program for expecting or adopting parents with dogs. This program is only offered three times a year, so by signing up for the waitlist, you will be the first to hear when registration opens again.

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 your toddler is a little Jack-in-the-box and gets out of bed several times a night, you are not alone. But if you have a dog, we need to consider how to prevent interactions between your toddler and pup in the middle of the night when you aren't supervising. 

Why do toddlers get out of bed at night?

1. They are going through a developmental shift which interrupts their sleep.
2. They need to be comforted and are looking for their parents.
3. They are experimenting with climbing and with boundaries
4. They need to potty or get a drink of water
5. They don't feel well

Dog Safety with toddlers who don't stay in bed at night

• If you are asleep or are in another room, you can't supervise interactions between your dog and toddler
• By using a baby gate on your toddler's door, they can't leave or interact with the dog
• If your toddler sleeps in your room, you can close your room or put a baby gate on your door to prevent them from wandering the house or interacting with the dog
• If the dog sleeps elsewhere, you can put a baby gate in a hallway to prevent your toddler from entering the space where the dog sleeps
• You can put a pen around the dog's crate to prevent the toddler from letting the dog out of the crate or from poking their fingers into the crate

Other supportive resources for parents with dogs

Listen to my limited series podcast, Parenting Kids and Dogs 101 here, on my website, or on your favorite podcast player.

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.

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