Training Family-Friendly Dogs and Dog-Friendly Families

Trainers and behavior consultants who work with family dogs, particularly in families with children, face some unique challenges in balancing the needs of their clients with the needs of their client’s dogs.

We want our families’ dogs to be safe and well-mannered companions, but do the dogs have to sacrifice their own personal doggishness for them to realize this goal? How do we help our families get the dog they want while ensuring a good quality of life for the dog?

This workshop will cover the essential elements to consider when opening your training or behavior practice up to families with children, such as:

-It’s OK to admit you don’t like kids!
-Bad matches hurt everyone: how to help select the right breed or individual dog for the family in front of you.
-Assessing the resident dog and their family to build an effective training plan
-Which kids make great dog trainers, and which kids don’t.
-When anthropomorphism works in your favor!
-Even “nice” dogs bite; what to teach kids about dogs to keep everyone safe!

We’ll analyze videos of dog/child interaction to help you spot potential problems, and review actual case studies to better your understanding of putting these principals into practice. we’ll also provide you with valuable resources that will offer you additional knowledge and ongoing support.

Barbara Davis, CDPT-KA, CDBC has been in practice as a dog trainer and behavior consultant for over 30 years; her business, BADDogsInc family dog training and behavior, was formed in 2004, and she specializes in meeting the needs of families and their companion dogs.

Barbara’s behavior case studies have been published in APDT’s Chronicle of the Dog, and she has provided web content for APDT, www.mydoghasclass.com and www.ccpdt.org. Barbara is a founding member of IAABC (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants), where she has served as Chair of the Application Review Committee and has been Chair of their Dog Division since 2013.

She also serves as a faculty mentor for IAABC’s acclaimed Animal Behavior Consulting: Principles & Practice course. Barbara and her family live in Corona, CA with their family-friendly Golden Retrievers.

CEUs - IAABC - 8, CCPDT - 8 (trainers)