At last! A kids-and-dogs book for parents written by someone who "gets it." This is a wonderful book. Useful, useful, useful information—all the main points in an extremely easy-to-read style. As a trainer and a mom, Colleen sees the full picture." — Dr. Ian Dunbar Living with Kids and Dogs . . . Without Losing Your Mind by Colleen Pelar, CPDT, covers more than introducing a baby to the family dog. It has chapters devoted to each stage of a child’s life with parental pointers for setting their family up for success while raising kids and dogs together. ~ Parenting books say control your dog; dog-training books say control your kids. The reality is far more complex and goes way beyond placing blame on either children or dogs for being who they are. ~ Living with Kids & Dogs . . . Without Losing Your Mind provides busy parents with simple, realistic advice to help ensure that the relationship between their kids and their dog is safe and enjoyable for all. You will learn how to • Help your child and dog develop a strong relationship, built on trust and cooperation • Set your family up for success with a minimum of effort • Recognize canine stress signals and know when your dog is getting worried about normal kid activity • Identify serious behavior problems before someone gets hurt • Provide specific help for managing the interactions with dogs through each stage of your kids’ lives from infancy through the teen years • Prevent your child from becoming part of a growing statistic—children who have been bitten by a dog. At last! A kids-and-dogs book for parents written by someone who gets it. This is a wonderful book. Useful, useful, useful information all the main points in an extremely easy-to-read style. As a trainer and a mom, Colleen sees the full picture. Dr. Ian Dunbar Living with Kids and Dogs . . . Without Losing Your Mind by Colleen Pelar, CPDT, covers more than introducing a baby to the family dog. It has chapters devoted to each stage of a child s life with parental pointers for setting their family up for success while raising kids and dogs together. ~ Parenting books say control your dog; dog-training books say control your kids. The reality is far more complex and goes way beyond placing blame on either children or dogs for being who they are. ~ Living with Kids & Dogs . . . Without Losing Your Mind provides busy parents with simple, realistic advice to help ensure that the relationship between their kids and their dog is safe and enjoyable for all. You will learn how to Help your child and dog develop a strong relationship, built on trust and cooperation Set your family up for success with a minimum of effort Recognize canine stress signals and know when your dog is getting worried about normal kid activity Identify serious behavior problems before someone gets hurt Provide specific help for managing the interactions with dogs through each stage of your kids lives from infancy through the teen years Prevent your child from becoming part of a growing statistic children who have been bitten by a dog. Colleen Pelar, CPDT, began training dogs professionally in August 1991, the same month she found out that she was expecting her first child. To her, training dogs and raising kids have always gone hand in hand. As the training manager of All About Dogs, Inc., the largest dog-training facility in Northern Virginia, Colleen oversees numerous group classes, private lessons, temperament evaluations, and behavior modification programs. All About Dogs caters to families and looks for ways to help parents successfully integrate a dog into their busy lives. Colleen has an excellent working relationship with local veterinarians as well as the Prince William County Animal Control Bureau. She has been recommended by both groups to evaluate potentially dangerous dogs. She is an active member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and has a B.A. from Penn State. Colleen regularly attends dog training seminars and has earned Level 1 certification through the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers (CCPDT), the first national certification for dog trainers. She lives a semi-chaotic life with her husband, Jack; their sons, Justin, Kyle, and Brandon; and, of course, their dog, Gordo. Used Book in Good Condition