In 2000, my family adopted our first German Shepherd rescue dog. That inspired my work with the rescue organization as a counselor and trainer. There, I discovered families with babies or young children found their situation overwhelming and were often on the verge of surrendering their cherished dog.
Once I recognized new and expecting parents’ needs for support and education, I began developing resources for families and dog professionals. These passions fueled my creation of Family Paws™ Parent Education, which now offers programs across the United States, Canada, and beyond.
By combining my special education experience, passion for supporting new families with my skills as a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, I was able to create programs that support parents looking to prepare for life with a dog and baby and dogs and toddlers. I am currently only offering virtual consultations.
These highly endorsed international programs include:
- Dogs & Storks® for expecting and adopting families
- Dogs & Toddlers™ for families with babies three months of age and older
Here to help
Through this curriculum, I’ve mentored and supported hundreds of dog trainers worldwide, been featured in The Wall Street Journal and Martha Stewart Living, and have spoken and written extensively on these topics, all while continuing to support local and distant families. My mission is to help create 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.
