This is a really excellent book that gives simple, practical advice about managing kids and dogs in the same household and teaching them to enjoy each other’s company.

The book is beautifully organised with large print points like "By teaching children the best ways to interact with dogs we empower them." Pelar also uses boxed information like FOUR HABITS TO CHANGE BEFORE THE BABY ARRIVES and a summary at the end of the chapter called Words For The Weary.

The first chapter covers basic issues such as training and management and the second gives advice on choosing a family dog, including a section on evaluating the dog you already have. There is a chapter on dog bites and one on serious behaviour issues. The chapters I enjoyed most were the ones about kids of different ages, babies and toddlers, preschoolers, elementary schoolers and teenagers. In each case the abilities and understanding of the children are different, the role of the parent is different and the training needs of the dog are different. The last chapter is on pet loss and grief, an important issue at any time and one that we would all like to manage well for our children’s sakes.

All parents of kids and dogs should own a copy of this book so that kids and dogs can have the kind of relationships that we dream about. As Colleen Pelar says – ‘When we know more, we do better.’ (Posted on 28/07/09)