Living with Kids and Dogs . . . Without Losing Your Mind: A Parent's Guide to Controlling the Chaos

This is one of the very best resources I've found for families with children and dogs. It has lots of practical kid-friendly and dog-friendly tips and ideas. I've recently read hundreds of books on similar topics while researching a book I'm writing, and this one really stood out. As a child/family psychologist, I was impressed with how solid it was, and as a therapy dog trainer, I thought the advice about dogs was spot-on! It deserves all the stars that everyone has given it!!

Colleen writes in a reader friendly manner. Her life experiences as Mom and dog trainer have brought together this wonderful resourceful book families can turn to time and time again! I recommend this book to all families I work with as it describes practical and positive solutions for challenging and hectic lives! :)

There are certainly other kids and dogs books out there but, this one is so far the best I've found. Colleen Pelar gives great, practical tips for parents of children at all ages that can be put to use immediately. I don't have children but, am active in rescue and am always looking for more training to help adopters and I learned so much. This book will be required reading for all adopters with children going forward. GREAT read!!!

Finally-- A really good book on how to live with kids and dogs. Most dog trainers don't have a lot of good things to say about kids (although I overhead one saying that she thought they tasted a lot like chicken!), but Colleen has written a book for parents by a parent who is also an excellent dog trainer. Colleen tells it like it is, from someone who knows. Her child-friendly, family-friendly and dog-friendly approach is realistic, safe, and right on the mark. I cannot say enough good things about Ms. Pelar or this book. Please read it and get a copy for your favorite family! As the director of training for the 4th largest shelter in the country, I see every day that the consequences of people not having this information is that dogs end up in shelters. I applaud Ms. Pelar for writing it and helping keep dogs in their homes through education. Becky Schultz, Certified Pet Dog Trainer Director of Animal Training and Behavior Programs Animal Humane Society Minneapolis, MN

Living with Kids and Dogs... Without Losing Your Mind is a no-nonsense advice guide for parents that emphasizes realistic and practical solutions to common parent/pet-owner problems. Dog training facility manager Colleen Pelar covers when not to get a dog (children under 5 are not old enough to interact with a pet responsibly and require supervision around animals; children in general cannot be burdened with the requirement to care for the pet or see it taken away - if the parent doesn't have the resources to follow up on a child's dog care then the family should not get a dog!), how to select an animal with suitable family temperament, how to prevent dog bites, and issues specific to children of various age groups from infant to teenager, and how to help one's children say goodbye to a beloved family pet when it passes on. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this no-nonsense, plain terms guide to dog care and managing a family with kids and dogs. A "must-have" for any parent considering a canine addition to the family.