About Family Paws

About Family Paws

Family Paws provides specialized programs and support for new and expecting parents with dogs.

Since 2002, our goal has been to increase safety and reduce stress in homes with young children and family dogs. We’re here to help you answer the question “How can we prepare with our dog for life with baby/children?”

Jennifer Shryock, owner and founder of Family Paws, saw a need for resources and information to support new and expecting families with dogs.  While answering calls for a German Shepherd rescue Jennifer heard firsthand the concerns, challenges, and heartache families experienced.   From fearing how their dog would accept a new addition to a serious bite to a toddler, families needed more support and resources.  Recognizing this need led Jennifer down the path to developing this very important niche,  Dog and baby/toddler dynamics and safety through Family Paws.   We believe strongly that education empowers and our goal is to increase safety and decrease stress for all family members through education and realistic expectations.

To this end, Family Paws offers a wide range of resources for families, dog professionals, and childbirth professionals that help foster successful relationships between children and family dogs. Our Family Paws Parent Educators are trained in child development and how children and dogs interact — so you’re creating a Dog Aware™ generation from the start!

Once you choose an Educator that’s right for you, they work to create practical and positive solutions structured around your specific needs, to help ease you into this new chapter of life. 

New and expecting families need a system of support. We hope to become part of your team — along with the doctors, doulas, family members, and friends who will help you along the way. 

Our Team

Recent Podcasts

Vision

At Family Paws Parent Education, we envision a world in which families with children and dogs live safely together with the mutual respect of each individual—human and canine—that contributes to a harmonious family unit.

Mission

Our mission is to provide educational programs worldwide to support families with children and dogs so that they may establish and grow the bonds for happy and safe relationships together.

We joyfully serve all families that choose to work with us. We embrace a deep commitment to compassion for—and inclusion of—all people, irrespective of race, ethnicity, nationality, nation of origin, color, culture, languages spoken, religion, beliefs, opinions, sex and sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression, age, education, veteran status, physical and mental capability and all dogs irrespective of breed, age or size.

Every Young Family Needs a Support System.

Find a Family Paw’s Educator near you and get the support you need to safely and happily raise your dogs and children, together.