Good Dog, Happy Baby: Preparing Your Dog for the Arrival of Your Child

by Michael Wombacher

Overview

For years dog trainer Michael Wombacher has worked with expecting dog owners to prevent problems between dogs and children. He has also unfortunately witnessed too many families forced to surrender their beloved family companions because they failed to prepare the dog for the arrival of a new family member. In Good Dog, Happy Baby, Wombacher lays out a twelve-step process that will give families the skills they need to navigate this new era of their lives. These skills include how to evaluate dogs, resolve common behavior problems, and fully prepare dogs for a new baby. This easy-to-use guide, filled with photos and simple instructions, makes a great gift for any expecting family with a dog, whether the dog is perfectly trained or in serious need of behavioral help.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781608688531
Publisher:	New World Library
Publication date:	02/14/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	168
File size:	8 MB

About the Author

Dog trainer Michael Wombacher has performed tens of thousands of private behavioral consultations. He also lectures, teaches classes, runs a small boarding and training operation, and trains other trainers. His approach focuses on working with, rather than overriding, a dog’s natural drives and instincts. He lives in Richmond, California.

Editorial Reviews

There’s excellent advice in this guide. . . . This book will become a much loved workbook.”
— Fit Pregnancy

“Well written and edited, with excellent photographs and illustrations.”
— Dog World

“Michael Wombacher is a maestro of dog trainers. His clarity of thinking, sense of humor, and skills in communicating make dog training fun for both pet and pet lover.”
— Michael Tilson Thomas, music director laureate of the San Francisco Symphony

“Consistently provides practical, gentle methods for molding dog behavior.”
— Jeffrey Bryan, DVM

“Simply great! A must for all expecting dog owners. Full of useful information to help ease a big transition.”
— Dean Beyerink, DVM

“Written with style and humor by one who truly understands dogs and the relationships they have with their families.”
— Joyce Weidman, DVM

From the Publisher

05/01/2015
Unfortunately, some babies experience aggression and even bites from the family dog because new parents are often unprepared for the dynamics between the surrogate child—the dog—and the new child. To avoid such problems, dog trainer and author (There's a Puppy in the House) Wombacher instructs expectant parents how to prepare their dog for a baby's arrival. His groundwork is a 12-step program using positive reinforcement by establishing sleeping areas and feeding arrangements along with obedience exercises. Behavior problems such as barking, separation anxiety, and jumping are addressed with step-by-step directions on how to resolve them. Detailed training exercises teach dogs to respect critical areas such as the child's room and the space around the baby, and how to walk next to a stroller, all of which create a safe environment both for baby and pet. VERDICT Most dog-training books such as Randy Grim's Don't Dump the Dog only have a general chapter about babies, making this specialized guide a recommended addition where demand is high.—Eva Lautemann, formerly with Georgia Perimeter Coll. Lib., Clarkston

Library Journal