Welcoming a newborn baby or a newly adopted puppy into your home

Welcoming a newborn baby or a newly adopted puppy into your home is such a special season

As your dog groomer, I get to see these big life changes unfold with so many of my wonderful clients — and I love chatting about how to help everything blend together safely and happily.

Whether you’ve just brought home a tiny human or a bouncy new pup, one thing is so important:

Teaching children how to respectfully interact with dogs.

Every child that gets bitten by a dog is one too many. And most bites happen because a child didn’t understand the dog’s signals — not because the dog is “bad.”

From a groomer’s perspective, I see how sensitive dogs can be to touch, noise, and sudden movement. Grooming teaches us that dogs communicate constantly — with their body language, posture, and expressions. Teaching kids to recognize and respect those signals is a game changer.

Here’s what I always tell families:

Dogs are not toys

No rough play, no climbing, no pulling ears or tails — even the most patient dog has limits.

Respect their stuff

Bones, toys, beds, blankets — those belong to your dog. Kids shouldn’t grab them away.

Never bother a dog while eating

Mealtime should be peaceful and stress-free.

Listen when the dog says “stop”

Stiff body, moving away, lip licking, growling — those are all ways dogs communicate discomfort. We teach children to stop immediately.

If your child is too young to understand these rules, supervision isn’t optional — it’s essential.

Now here’s the part I LOVE as a groomer:

Get the kids involved in positive training!

Even toddlers can gently toss a treat when you mark good behavior. Older kids can help practice cues using positive reinforcement. It builds:

Respect

Confidence

Strong bonds

A safer home

And when kids are part of training, dogs often build even stronger positive associations with them.

Does your dog need more exercise?

Sometimes when a new baby arrives or schedules change, our dogs get less activity than they’re used to. Signs they may need more exercise:

• Zoomies at night

• Excessive barking

• Chewing

• Restlessness during grooming

Mental exercise counts too! Snuffle mats, short training sessions, scent games — these are amazing when life feels busy.

Fun dog facts to share with your kids

Dogs communicate mostly through body language.

A dog’s sense of smell is up to 100,000 times stronger than ours.

Positive reinforcement training builds trust faster than punishment ever could.

Puppies start learning from day one — consistency matters!

Adding a baby or a puppy to your “pack” is beautiful — just make sure everyone understands how to live together safely and kindly.

If you’ve recently added a new baby or puppy to your family, tell me at your next grooming appointment — I love celebrating these milestones with you!

Safe dogs. Safe kids. Happy homes.