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For Veterinary Professionals

 

 

 

 

Dog & Baby/Toddler Safety Course for Vet Professionals

Family Paws has partnered with VetVine to offer an information-packed 4-part course for Veterinary Professionals dedicated to dog and baby/toddler safety!

This 4-part webinar series serves to inform veterinary and pet care professionals on how to better educate and support families with dogs and children. Through a better understanding of the dog as a canid species, as well as their developmental stages and impacts on behavior, we can support and guide families in how to prevent childhood bites and decrease the risks of a dog being relinquished, rehomed, or euthanized. Participants of this program will come away with a better understanding of how to prevent childhood bites by providing families with knowledge, guidance, and support regarding relationships between children and dogs.

Course fee is $129 Fee includes resources and handouts available for download.

Approved for 4 hours of CE credit for veterinarians and veterinary technicians by AAVSB RACE, NY State, and the NJVMA.
Approved for 4 hours of CEU credit by IAABC and for behavior consultants by CCPDT

 

 

 

Register Now!

Course Information

Is “let them sniff the blanket” sufficient advice to provide to someone if asked how to successfully introduce a new baby to the family dog? No, it’s not enough! The introduction of a new baby or infant/toddler to a family dog should include a series of interactions (over time) that emphasize safeguarding of the child, all the while considering enrichment and the welfare of the family dog. Additionally, the human pregnancy, infant, and toddler phases are each very different. With respect to human and animal interactions, each phase has its unique challenges, risks, and solutions.

Veterinarians, as part of the family health care team and as public health providers, are frequently called upon after a dog behaves aggressively or bites a child. Dog bites are often a symptom of a larger, usually chronic problem that may have been avoided with proper education, intervention, and management. Veterinary and other pet care professionals are well-positioned to guide and support expectant or new parents in dog and baby/toddler safety.

 

 

 

Course Description

Part I: Bonds and Bites 

  • A discussion of the veterinary / pet care professional’s role in providing education and support to families with dogs and children
  • A better understanding of the dog as a species, their needs, and canine development with an emphasis on the critical socialization phase and how it relates to canine behavior
  • Dog bites including incidence, risk factors, and prevention techniques

Part II: Pregnancy and Homecoming 

  • Assessing and understanding canine body language including subtle signs of fear, anxiety, and stress
  • Planning and preparation of a household for the introduction of a new baby to the family dog
  • Safety plans and management strategies that allow for inclusion of the dog when an infant arrives home from the hospital

 

 

 

Part III: Zero to Six

  • The stages of infant development from birth through 6 months of age, and the potential impacts on the family dog
  • Perinatal / postpartum mood disorders and the potential impacts on the human-animal bond
  • How to prepare safety plans and provide for effective supervision
  • Recommendations for keeping the human-animal bond strong and healthy as the infant in the home grows and develops

Part IV: Dog Aware

  • The stages of infant development from 6 months through 1 year of age and the changes in family dynamics
  • The ongoing changes and impacts associated with toddlerhood on the aging family dog
  • Creation of dog aware generations
  • Family-friendly techniques in the veterinary practice setting and resources for clients

 

 

 

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.
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