If you’re raising kids and dogs under the same roof, you know there’s never a dull moment—especially when your little one discovers the dog’s water bowl. While this might seem like harmless toddler curiosity, there are some safety concerns you’ll want to keep in mind, both for your child and your dog. In today’s episode, I'll discuss why kids are drawn to dog water bowls, the potential risks involved, and how to redirect that curiosity into safe, fun water play opportunities. So, grab a cup of coffee—or water!—and let’s get into it.

Why Are Kids Drawn to Dog Water Bowls?

• Exploration and sensory play
• The appeal of "forbidden" objects.
• They want to "help" you to water the plants or wash the floor.
• If the dog can move their bowl, so can the toddler.

Safety Concerns with Dog Water Bowls

• Drowning - possible in as little as an inch or two of water
• Slipping hazards around spilled water
• Risk of a dog resource guarding the bowl and then chasing, lunging or snapping at or biting the child

How to Respond When Your Toddler Plays in the Dog’s Water Bowl

• Gentle redirection strategies:
  • How to approach the situation without scolding.
  • Tips for staying calm and modeling appropriate interactions.
• Using baby gates or barriers to limit access to the dog’s feeding area.
• Creating a designated space for your dog’s water and food that’s out of reach of small children.

Encouraging "Legal and Approved" Water Play for Kids

• Easy and fun water play alternatives:
  • Sensory bins with water and toys.
  • Water tables for outdoor or indoor use.
  • Bath time activities that mimic the experience of splashing in a bowl.
• Teaching boundaries: Helping kids learn the difference between their toys and the dog’s resources.

Related Product Suggestions for Parents of Toddlers and Dogs

• No splash dog water bowl.
• Hanging water bowls for crates or kennels
• Water table for toddlers 1.5 years old and up.
• Bath toys for curious toddlers
• Watering can for children
• Washable, non-slip reusable potty pads, ideal for putting under a water table to absorb spills and splashes

Supportive resources for parents with dogs

I have a handout for parents about how to manage toddlers playing in the dog water bowl. Members of The Pooch Parenting Society get a handout every month - and this one is on the calendar to be delivered soon. If you found this podcast helpful, I offer ongoing, affordable support. Join the Club! The Pooch Parenting Society is the only membership of it's kind - offering compassionate EXPERT and relatable advice FOR parents with dogs from a certified professional dog trainer, family dog mediator, mom and credentialed teacher. You don't have to go through this parenti

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

In this episode of the Pooch Parenting Podcast, I'm tackling one of the most difficult and heart-wrenching topics for dog-loving families: when to consider behavioral euthanasia for a dog with a significant bite history. This is a decision no parent ever wants to face, and it’s one filled with complex emotions, from love and guilt to grief and responsibility.

As a dog behavior consultant who specializes in helping parents raising kids and dogs together, I understand how deeply we bond with our dogs and how agonizing it can be to weigh our love for the family dog, quality of life and the well-being and safety of our families. Today, I’ll explore how to assess your situation, when it might be time to say goodbye, and how to support your children through this challenging time. Most importantly, I’ll do it with empathy, compassion, and an understanding that love is at the heart of every decision you make.

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

In this episode of the Pooch Parenting Podcast, we’re diving into a topic that many parents face: what to do when your toddler or young child is too rough with the family dog.

Maybe you’ve caught your little one pulling the dog’s tail, giving overly enthusiastic hugs, or even climbing on them like they’re a jungle gym. You love both your child and your dog, but you’re worried about how these interactions might affect their safety and their bond.

The good news is, rough behavior is a common phase in childhood, and with the right strategies, you can help your child learn to interact with your dog in a gentle, safe, and positive way. In this episode, we’ll explore why this happens, how to set your child and dog up for success, and what to do when things get a little too rough.

So, whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or just looking for tips to make life smoother for your family, you’re in the right place.

Why Rough Behavior Happens

• Curiosity and lack of impulse control are normal developmental behaviors in toddlers and young children
• Kids and parents can misunderstand dog body language and can think this type of behavior is acceptable.
• Examples of typical rough behaviors: pulling tails, climbing on the dog, hugging too tightly, etc.

Why Rough Handling of Dogs Is a Problem

• Potential risks: stress for the dog, fear, growling, or even biting.
• Rough handling can damage the child-dog bond over time.
• Many parents (and kids, of course) miss common dog stress signals (ie, lip licking, yawning, avoiding the child).

Setting Toddlers and Young Kids Up for Success Around Dogs

• Supervision: Always be paying attention when dogs and kids are in the same space and when they are interacting with each other.
• Separation: Use barriers like baby gates or playpens when supervision isn’t possible.
• Safe Spaces: Teach children that the dog’s bed or crate is off-limits. If the dog is on the sofa or resting anywhere, they should be left alone, as if surrounded by hot lava.

Teaching Toddlers and Young Kids to be Gentle with Dogs

• Age-appropriate ways to teach children how to interact with dogs gently.
  • Modeling soft petting.
  • Using stuffed animals to practice gentle touch.
  • Role-playing with the child.
  • Read some of my favorite books with your toddlers, including: Tails are Not for Pulling, Hands are Not for Hitting and Love Me Gently.
• Clear and consistent rules (e.g., no hugging or climbing on the dog).

Managing Expectations for Parents

• Setting realistic boundaries for what the dog can tolerate based on its temperament and age.
• Avoid placing the dog in situations where rough handling might happen.

Strengthening the Child-Dog Bond

• Activities where kids can positively engage with the dog under supervision (e.g., training tricks, feeding, or tossing a toy).
• Reinforcing good be

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

Picture this: A parent is hosting a lively party. The house is full of guests, kids are running around, and the family dog is right in the middle of it all. It seems like a perfect celebration—until something goes terribly wrong. Amid the chaos, the dog, overwhelmed and unsupervised, bites a guest. What started as a joyful gathering has now turned into a stressful and regrettable situation.

In this episode, we’ll unpack this story, which happened to a client of mine living in San Francisco, to understand what went wrong and, more importantly, how you can prevent something like this from happening at your own events. We’ll explore:

• How dogs react to busy social environments, especially if they aren't used to them.
• The impact of parental overwhelm on managing kids and pets during parties.
• Practical strategies to keep everyone—dogs, kids, and guests—safe and happy at social events.

Whether you’re planning a holiday get-together, a birthday party, or just a casual hangout with friends, this episode will equip you with the tools to navigate these situations with confidence.

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

I'm excited to share my holiday gift pick of the year for families with kids and dogs - Hide and Scent - The Ultimate Game of Hide and Seek for Dogs, Kids Edition. It's a fun and simple nose work game for dogs and children to play together. It offers dogs and kids a safe way to interact that doesn't require physical contact - a huge win for dogs who may be shy, fearful or even those who are overly excited.

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

A lot of my clients seem to be very uncomfortable with the idea of separating their dog and child for safety reasons. But I recently had an epiphany - they all assumed that separation was the same as isolation. And it's not.

Using management strategies, such as using a pen to cordon off an area for a child to play, provide separation between the dog and child. But neither the dog or child is isolated. Everyone can still see each other. The parent can still interact with everyone. And with time and patience, everyone can be very comfortable and safe with such an arrangement.

So now, I am always reminding clients that "Separation is not the same as isolation." It's simply a way for parents to function and do the impossibly difficult job of raising kids and dogs together.

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

I recently heard from a family whose rescue dog bit their young child. They told me that they have a "one bite policy" with pet dogs and that now the dog needs to go. While I completely understand their rule and their decision, I like to encourage families to consider the WHOLE situation, both from the human perspective and from the dog's perspective. Dog bites are awful, but they are also often quite complicated with several mitigating factors.

One Bite Policy From the Family's Perspective

1. Download this free guide to understand why your dog might growl: ABC's of Growling: https://poochparenting.net/abcs-of-growling/
2. It's terrifying when a dog bites a child and the trauma can be hard to recover from
3. A child deserves to feel physically and emotionally safe at home
4. Parents already have a lot on their plate and sometimes it's easier to limit complications to make life easier and safer
5. Dog behavior can be confusing and it's easy to miss subtle signs of stress in dogs
6. It can be confusing if a dog bites a child "who was just trying to pet her." From the parent's perspective the child's behavior is no big deal - but dogs don't bite for no reason. It's important to consider "the why" - was the dog in pain, afraid, startled awake from a deep sleep or disturbed while chewing a bone?
7. Parents might not know the learning or genetic history of a rescue dog, inadvertently bringing a fearful, nervous or anxious dog into their home.
8. Kids are hard. Their behavior changes constantly as they grow and develop, and it can be hard to stay on top of polite and respectful behavior around animals.
9. Having a "one bite policy" gives parents a clear guideline to follow, so they don't get confused by their conflicting emotions.
10. When parents are afraid of their child or visitors getting hurt again in the future, they may not be willing to consider that bites can be prevented with adequate management, working with a dog and child specialist or learning to read dog body language
11. Rehoming a dog does NOT mean you don't love them. Sometimes loving an animal means setting them up for success elsewhere.

One Bite Policy From the Dog's Perspective

• Kids can be scary and unpredictable.
• A rescue dog may have arrived with past trauma related to inappropriate behavior by children.
• A dog who doesn't feel safe expresses themself by demonstrating a variety of body language - some subtle and some quite overt.
• By biting a child, dogs can often stop the child from being disrespectful.
• It should not be the dog's responsibility to stop a child from being a perceived threat. That's the role of the adults.
• Dogs don't usually bite for no reason. It's important for people to get curious about what the possible causes could have been.
• A single bite may not be adequate at determining if the dog should remain in the home. Some dogs bite for good reason and some types bites can be prevented in the future by using effective management and learning to read dog body language

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 you are a birth worker, such as a doula, midwife, lactation consultant or night nurse, who sees clients in their own homes, there is a very good chance that you will interact with family pets. Because families are hiring you to help them ease their transition into new parenthood, their pets (dogs, in particular) will play a large part into the new family dynamic. And let's be honest - they are hiring you because you are a baby expert...not because you are a dog expert. And why should you be? But the truth of the matter is that you may notice some unsafe behavior in the family dog that worries you about the future safety of the new baby...and the sanity of the new parents. In this podcast episode, I discuss what red flags to look for in dogs before baby comes home, and what to do if you are concerned about dog and baby safety.

Dog Red Flags for In-Home Birth Workers

1. Download this free guide outlining which red flags in dogs dogs might ultimately impact dog and baby safety: https://poochparenting.net/baby-professionals/
2. If your client says:
   • "my dog doesn't like kids."
   • "my dog is reactive and I am worried about his response to baby"
   • "our dog has a bite history."
   • "I wish I understood my dog better."
   • "I'm worried our dog will be jealous / overprotective of the new baby."
3. If YOU feel unsafe around the dog at any point working with this family, entering their home, or even when you get up to leave
4. If the dog currently sleeps in your client's bed or in the room where the baby will be sleeping

What to do if parents need extra support

• Refer out to a dog and child specialist, such as me at Pooch Parenting.
• Sometimes, dogs need medical support in order to make more progress with issues like anxiety and fear. Working in combination with me and a veterinary behaviorist can often offer the relief families and their dogs need to provide a safe environment for baby to thrive.
• The Animal Behavior Clinic in Portland, Oregon is an excellent option for veterinary behavior support. Even if you don't live in Oregon, they may be able to share their expertise and collaborate with your own local vet.

I also discuss some simple tips for bringing baby home to meet the dog, why bringing home a baby blanket from the hospital is not a good idea, and where dogs should sleep.

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