For Dog Professionals

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Meet Your Instructors
Learn More
What’s Included
What Our Graduates Say
Dog Aware Mini Course
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Interested in Becoming a Family Paws Parent Educator?

Are you a dog professional who feels a bit uncomfortable when it comes to consults involving babies, toddlers and dogs? Do you ever feel overwhelmed or intimidated about providing the best possible support and advice to families with babies or toddlers? You are not alone! This niche is super important and often complex as it involves many changing dynamics. Would you like to increase your knowledge and comfort regarding dog-and-baby/toddler dynamics? Why wait any longer? Family Paws offers our foundation course to dog professionals who have chosen and been approved to become a licensed Family Paws Parent Educator. This opportunity is much more than a course. It is a commitment to being an active part of the Family Paws Educator referral network and staying up to date with Family Paws materials and information. This is also just a stepping stone towards an entirely different marketing path and opportunities. We offer this opportunity 3 times a year.

Now accepting applicants for 2024! Please be sure to read the overview to be sure that you understand our requirements and that this is the right match for you.

Tuesday January 9- April 2

Tuesday April 30-July 23

TuesdayAugust13- November 5

18 CEU credits IAABC, 17, CCPDT

Apply Now

Here is why Debra became a Family Paws Parent Educator.

Why choose to become part of the Family Paws Parent Education team?

Boost your marketing reach by offering dog and baby/toddler specific services
Increase the credibility and visibility of your business by being associated with a recognized and highly endorsed International program.
Receive a field-tested presentation created by an expert in dog and baby/toddler dynamics.
Save time and increase your effectiveness by using our real-life photos, practical exercises, and professional handouts with your clients.
Differentiate your business from your competition by highlighting our logos on your materials, including your website.
Receive ongoing support, education and updated materials in order to stay ahead of others in your field.
Have peace of mind knowing that you’ll receive support and guidance on challenging cases involving dog and baby/toddler dynamics.
To participate and attend FPPE online learning opportunities
To build a more profitable business through increased knowledge and improved skills when working in homes with dogs and young children.

Overview & Fees Course Outline Apply Now

Meet Your Instructors

Jennifer Shryock

Founder, B.A. CDBC

Jennifer Shryock is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) and the proud owner of Family Paws™ LLC in Cary, North Carolina. Jennifer has served as a board member of the International Childbirth Education Association and is also a mother and former special education teacher.

Learn More
Bethany Cunningham

CPDT-KA

Bethany Cunningham, CPDT-KA is a mom, professional dog trainer, and professional photographer. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer with a focus on behavior modification in pet dogs.

Learn More

Learn More About the Family Paws Foundation Course

Led by Jennifer Shryock and Bethany Cunningham, this 13-week course will increase your knowledge, confidence, and network as you become a licensed Family Paws Parent Educator. Our education, resources, and ongoing support help you differentiate yourself from your competition and help you tap into this specialized, important, and opportunity-rich market niche.

Course Outline Overview & Fees

What’s Included for Educators?

Education & Business/Marketing Support

Ongoing support from Founder Jennifer Shryock B.A. CDBC
Classes for CE’s covering topics from marketing to child development.
Exposure through national advertising and press for the programs.
Referrals in your local area through our website search service.
Benefits and discounts from The Family Dog and more!
Referrals from our Dog & Baby Support line
Free Marketing webinar by John Visconti, author of Fetch More Dollars

Included Materials

A ready-to-use, professionally designed powerpoint presentation for both programs
Flyers, ads, and press releases you can customize and use.
High-resolution logo files, ready to put on your materials for co-branding.
20+ handouts to use with your clients.
4 1 on 1 coaching sessions with Jennifer Shryock
Access to our private group area for discussions, ongoing support and networking
and much more!

Apply Now

What Our Graduates Say

I had a homecoming virtual session yesterday with a mama in her hospital bed. Baby came early and she didn't want to cancel. It went so well thanks to all I have learned. We were able to really talk through all scenarios and help her feel more at ease about bringing baby home the next day.

Melissa Wood
I wouldn't dream of taking on clients with babies and dogs without this course. It combs through so many details of the parent, dog and baby relationship. It also helped me to see things from a young parent's perspective more and I feel much more adequate to provide support now. Trainers know how to train dogs, but the empathy piece is just not something they teach you in trainer school, the shelter, or the vet's office.

Grace Seward
Definitely take this course. If you’re a new parent the resources are going to help them cope in a new world where everything changes quickly and you are so tired.

If you are a dog trainer this course is such an eye-opening experience. It is all really simple but it took this course for me to see it or to connect some of the things your wonderful handouts have pointed out.

Jimmie K. Lee
This course has been so helpful with taking a deeper dive into family dynamics and what goes on with having children. For someone who does not have kids, it can be easy to miss some of the things that may happen or not think about the emotions that can be happening at certain times. This course helps make you, as the educator, more aware and able to be more compassionate while helping them.

Tiffany Johnson
This program is a MUST for all dog trainers who do not have children. FPPE will

-help you understand infant and toddler body language.

-help you become more empathetic to new mothers and the emotional experience of bringing home a newborn.

-allow you to become familiar with the preparations for a newborn such as birth plans, lactating consultants, etc. -Facilitate a better understanding of cognitive and developmental milestones that children undergo so that as a trainer, you can better anticipate challenges with the family dog. -how to better support families who may impulsively re-home a dog.

Meredith Minkin
I really enjoy the breakdown of what happens at each life stage of a child's life and how we can help our dogs through that. I think the program helps emphasize that we need to have realistic expectations of our dogs and realize that not everything can be solved with training. It can certainly help, but it's more management than anything else.

Hannah Anagnostou
This course was an eye-opener when it comes to learning about families and dogs. It really fulfilled my expectations and went so far beyond them! It is so comprehensive, clear, and enjoyable. The knowledge I’ve acquired while doing this course helped me become a more confident dog trainer when it comes to educating adults and the next generations of humans on how to build a healthy relationship with their beloved dogs. This course is an absolute game changer!

Isabel Cetin
Family Paws course introduces sensitive topics in a kind compassionate eye-opening way. Knowing how high emotions can run (for so many reasons mentioned) within a family unit and then the best way possible to be an advocate of help. Taking into consideration possible fatigue, brain fog, processing of information troubles- Having this on the forefront of my mind is incredibly helpful moving forward with these family's. No matter what stage they may be at. Thank You!!!!

Kim Drach
This course was way more than I had expected. The information was in-depth and eye opening, yet simple to understand. I researched other basic courses but this was by far the best pick and I’m glad I chose to learn from Bethany and Jennifer.

The knowledge I now have will allow me to confidently work with, educate, train, and support, so many families, expectant families, children, and dogs.

From babies and dogs to toddlers and dogs, it really covers everything!

Kylie Barkla
I have taken a lot of courses, this hands down has been the most well planned, well presented of anything I have experienced. The supportive materials are brilliant. All dog trainers should take this course, the insight gained from this is invaluable and practical and you won't find this in any other program, there is nothing like it. Whether you're a niche trainer or offer a variety of services, this education is universally practical to have in your dog training toolbox.

Lee McCullough Desmarais – Dog Trainer
This course has been incredibly helpful in understanding child and dog relationships, and how to serve as a support system for pet parents. The resources such as links, handouts, and guides received from the course are awesome. The amount of compassion and understanding that Bethany and Jennifer have is astounding. I am so glad to have been able to participate in this course!

Kayla Dorney

Dog Aware Mini Course

Family Paws is now offering the Dog Aware Mini Course.

Learn More Register Now!

Recent Podcasts

View More Resources

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.

Find Now!

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Chinese Simplified	Hungarian	Russian
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Czech	Italian	Slovenian
Danish	Japanese	Spanish
Dutch	Klingon	Swedish
English	Korean	Thai
Estonian	Latvian	Turkish
Finnish	Lithuanian	Ukrainian
French	Malay	Urdu
German	Maltese	Vietnamese
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Haitian Creole	Persian

Arabic	Hebrew	Polish
Bulgarian	Hindi	Portuguese
Catalan	Hmong Daw	Romanian
Chinese Simplified	Hungarian	Russian
Chinese Traditional	Indonesian	Slovak
Czech	Italian	Slovenian
Danish	Japanese	Spanish
Dutch	Klingon	Swedish
English	Korean	Thai
Estonian	Latvian	Turkish
Finnish	Lithuanian	Ukrainian
French	Malay	Urdu
German	Maltese	Vietnamese
Greek	Norwegian	Welsh
Haitian Creole	Persian

Arabic	Hebrew	Polish
Bulgarian	Hindi	Portuguese
Catalan	Hmong Daw	Romanian
Chinese Simplified	Hungarian	Russian
Chinese Traditional	Indonesian	Slovak
Czech	Italian	Slovenian
Danish	Japanese	Spanish
Dutch	Klingon	Swedish
English	Korean	Thai
Estonian	Latvian	Turkish
Finnish	Lithuanian	Ukrainian
French	Malay	Urdu
German	Maltese	Vietnamese
Greek	Norwegian	Welsh
Haitian Creole	Persian

For Dog Professionals

Interested in Becoming a Family Paws Parent Educator?

Why choose to become part of the Family Paws Parent Education team?

Meet Your Instructors

Jennifer Shryock

Founder, B.A. CDBC

Bethany Cunningham

CPDT-KA

Learn More About the Family Paws Foundation Course

What’s Included for Educators?

Education & Business/Marketing Support

Included Materials

What Our Graduates Say

Melissa Wood

Grace Seward

Jimmie K. Lee

Tiffany Johnson

Meredith Minkin

Hannah Anagnostou

Isabel Cetin

Kim Drach

Kylie Barkla

Lee McCullough Desmarais – Dog Trainer

Kayla Dorney

Dog Aware Mini Course

Recent Podcasts

Animal Training Academy Podcast

The Bitey End of the Dog Podcast

The Nick Benger Podcast

Every Young Family Needs a Support System.

Management changes

Absent Supervision

15% off our May Educator Course! Spring into ACTION NOW!