Blog

The Why Behind the Educator
By Elysia Ostrander, CPDT-KA, F.P.P.E.

Have you ever wondered what drives someone to support families with dogs? I get asked often about why I choose this niche and continue to work in it. The truth of the matter for me is that I love it, it is something I enjoy, and something that I see true value in.

We wanted to know the why for some of our other educators so we asked them to fill in the blank.

I am a Family Paws Parent Educator Because…

“I am a Family Paws Parent Educator because I know first hand how hard it can be to raise a child in a home with a sensitive dog. I also want to be the moral support and that pair of fresh eyes for new parents that I so desperately needed when raising my son. Helping parents both FEEL and BE successful is my passion, and it’s something I am so thankful to be able to do every single day.” – Kate Uruchurtu Cpdt-ka of Calmer Canine Training.

Parents are often overwhelmed, and until you can see things from their perspective it can be so easy to dismiss the challenges that parents face on a day-to-day basis. When you are a new parent and you are told you need to do extra steps and extra training and
that it will take time, it can feel like an impossible situation. When we work with families it is so important that we take their perspective into account and make things easier for them, not harder.

“I choose to be a Family Paws Parent Educator to bring hope and help to families concerned about aggression in the family dog.” – Jenn Gavin of A Pleasant Dog 

Aggression can be very dangerous especially when there are children involved. Having a true understanding of how complicated dog and child dynamics can be is essential in helping parents navigate problem behaviours in dogs.

“I chose to become and continue to choose to be a Family Paws Parent Educator for a variety of reasons. One, I love setting new parents up for successful management, habits, and training before baby comes. It’s such a pleasure to see dogs learn the skills they need and know that we are mitigating postpartum stress for families by helping them know what to expect. I also realized that for some families, integrating kids and dogs is a real challenge for a variety of reasons- maybe it’s the dog struggling, but sometimes the child is scared, has impulse control challenges, or the family just needs help understanding their dogs unique sensitivities. These cases are always multi-faceted, never boring, emotionally challenging, and intellectually stimulating. I get to combine my love and fascination with child development with my love and fascination with dogs!! It’s the best. ” Lindsay Carlson, dog professional

Not everyone is prepared for the extra complexities children bring to the family dog. Understanding both child development and behaviour as well as dog behaviour is not only helpful for trainers, but I would argue essential in having success in these cases. The work does not end at brining baby home, and having the ability to look further into the future and setting everyone up for success for the long term is where the magic happens.

“Because supporting families to have safer homes and lower stress, is a passion of mine. I am proud to be a Family Paws educator!” – Lisa Desatnik of So Much Petential

When you can set up everyone for success and lower stress you can see families thrive. It is one of the most rewarding experiences we have as educators.

 

“Because I believe that two of the most special relationships people have are with their children and their dogs, and by increasing understanding on both sides we can make those bonds stronger and more ‘joyful.'” – Morgan Jenkins of We Leash The Hounds LLC

Often young couples get a puppy or a dog before they start having kids, and they learn very quickly how special having your first dog is as an adult is. Then they become parents, and that is also so special, but it changes the relationship with their dog. Parents often feel guilty about the impact on their dog.

“I am a Family Paws Parent Educator because I am passionate about supporting parents through the wonderful but stressful transitions surrounding birth and raising children in families with dogs. Their success stories are my joyful reinforcement!” – Lisa Bert of Fingers and Paws Dog Training

When we get to be part of this very special part of someone’s life it is an impact that you carry with you throughout your career. We change lives by giving parents a safe place to come and get expert advice as well as support through one of the most difficult things
you go through as an adult.

“Because I realized how fortunate I was that my dogs were SO tolerant of my kids and I wanted to advocate for others.” – Kym Iffert of Dog Whys

Tolerance is something we often take for granted as parents, and when we get to advocate for parents and dogs, it is something that changes everything for the dog. When we know better, we can do better, and we believe in creating bonds between kids and dogs that goes beyond just tolerance.

“Working in animal welfare, I’ve seen so many dogs surrendered (or euthanized) for, “biting out of the blue.”  With overcrowding in shelters at an all-time high, I wanted to be able to advocate for family dogs, and the families who love them. Giving families knowledge, support and understanding while hopefully preventing unfortunate situations, decisions made in haste and overcrowding in shelters.” – Michele Sparling Griffin of Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary

When we can advocate early, and help families understand their dog, we not only help keep dogs in families, but we make a change that reduces the number of dogs in shelters. When parents have resources and the ability to work through and talk out problems it helps them make decisions that are the best for everyone. Its amazing how sometimes the smallest of changes can make the biggest impact for families.

“…because I was never a biological parent. I had foster patented but never had a child (adopted from DCFS) younger than 13. I am a second generation trainer, but a first time mom. So, I wanted more skills and a better understanding of young kiddo dynamics with dogs.” – Tina Spring of Sit Happens Dog Training and Behavior

You don’t have to be a parent of young children to be an educator. You don’t even have to have experience with children, just a willingness to learn and work with families. With the amount of experience and education that family paws has in its educators and founder, it is a place that anyone that shares our values and wants to make a difference in the lives of dogs and children can come and learn with an open mind. Being an Educator doesn’t just change the lives of the families we work with, but it is life changing for our educators too!