SERVICES
SELECTING THE RIGHT DOG
PUPPY
KINDERGARTEN
BASIC
OBEDIENCE
PROBLEM
SOLVING
DOGS AND
BABIES
THE PACK
WALK
CUSTOMIZED
LESSONS
|
Dogs And Babies
Bringing a new baby into the home
can cause much stress and fear in both the parents and the
dog. A new baby in the house usually means a drastic
change in routine, and the one affected most by this
change is usually your dog. He used to be the star of
the show, receiving time and attention, and all of a
sudden, most of that is gone. The walks you used to take
your dog on are now a rarity. Additionally, the dog
senses in the parents nervousness, fear, and suspicion
towards him, causing
him to mirror these feelings. And what caused all of this change
and upheaval in the dog's life? The baby.
The dog is smart enough to
recognize that not only is the baby the source of the
anxiety in the parents but that the baby is also the one
receiving all the attention and taking the dogs place in
the pack. So what is a scorned dog to do? Some dogs
start exhibiting destructive, anxiety related behaviors,
such as peeing and defecating in the house, chewing
objects, barking excessively, etc. Other dogs show more
troubling symptoms, such as aggression and/or dominance
towards the baby and other family members and animals.
In some, thankfully rare cases, dogs do attack and bite either the
baby or another family member.
The Dogs and Babies program teaches
you how to recognize, prevent and/or correct problem
behaviors, before they become a nuisance or danger. Some
of the things you will learn are:
-
Identify and recognize what your dog values
most about his life before the arrival of the baby.
-
The proper way to maintain your dog's
routine and how to introduce new routines that will help when
the baby arrives.
-
How to introduce your dog to the baby
safely.
-
How to teach your dog to respect both the
baby and create a safe area in the nursery.
-
How to establish and maintain your leader's
status in your pack.
-
How to establish and maintain your dog's
status of a follower in your pack.
Program Details
Ideally, the Dogs and Babies program should
be started at a minimum of 4-8 weeks prior to the arrival of the
baby, in order to give the dog and the owners time to establish
the proper discipline and routine, but it can be very effective
if started as late as one week prior to the arrival. The more
time you give yourself and your dog for this adjustment, the
more successful the transition will be. This program is appropriate for
dogs over the age of six months. Younger puppies will not be
affected the same way by the arrival of a baby and should be
addressed in the Puppy Kindergarten program.
The Dogs and Babies program is a series of
3
private lessons. The first lesson takes two hours, with
subsequent lessons taking one hour each. Fewer or greater number
of lessons can
be scheduled, depending on owner's needs and progress.
The first lesson includes a thorough
evaluation of the dog and family, to ensure that the training
methods and pace enable the owners to achieve their goals.
During the second lesson you will build on the discipline and
training routine established in the first lesson, and add a
specific routine, tailored for your family, that you can use to
introduce your dog to the baby. The third lesson can be used to either supervise the introduction of the dog to
the baby (for cases with very stubborn or dominant dogs), or as
a follow up, a few weeks after the baby's arrival, to ensure
that no bad or dangerous behaviors are starting to surface.
Cost
Lessons are given at a rate of
$80/hour.
The first lesson is $160 (2 hours).
Each subsequent 1-hour lesson is $80.
Please add $20 to each lesson if one-way travel in excess
of 35 miles from Trumbull, CT is required.
How to Enroll
This is a private lesson plan, and can be
scheduled to fit into your schedule. Please
call or email
us to set up your lessons. |
