Do you have a much-loved dog? Your 'fur kid'? Are you expecting or trying for a baby? Does your dog know? Do you want to learn how to prepare your dog for the new addition? Tell Your Dog You're Pregnant offers a practical, intuitive approach for creating a loving bond between your dog and your new baby. Dr Kirkham has packed this book full of information, helpful tips and the latest behavioral knowledge. It is a must read for any dog owning family who is expecting a baby - your dog's and baby's future relationship may just depend on it. Learn how A baby makes many different noises and your dog needs to be familiar with new sounds ranging from crying to giggling; sneezing to splashing in the bath; as well as all those noisy toys. Prepare your dog for these new sounds with this step-by-step guide and included free downloadable soundtracks.
“Tell Your Dog You’re Pregnant” is a well written and easy to read book on making the introduction between your dog and new baby as smooth and safe as possible. As a Vet, I read the book interested to get some more info on the topic to be able to advise clients and friends, and also know that the text is worth recommending to them (which it is!).
Starting with background info such as common myths and problems, how dogs benefit households and some facts about the risks of dogs in general (whether it be yours, a friends or other). The book then moves through a specific 5 step process to prepare your dog for the arrival of your baby and the sounds and routines associated with this. The book comes with a CD to work through with your dog and the audio is also downloadable online. There are clear steps for you to work through with your dog and also ways of assessing how your dog responds, allowing you know how to move forward. The book is clear that in some cases, seeing a Vet with an interest in animal behaviour might be important to ensure the safety of your child. There are some links to help you find a Vet with an interest in animal behaviour in the book.
There is also a veterinary health section on keeping the baby and pet healthy – for example: grooming and worm control. The book has some case studies taken from Dr Kirkham’s behavioural consultations, which are helpful to put some of the advice in context.
The text is complemented with some gorgeous dog photos and baby photos and is nicely laid out. If possible get the book early on in your pregnancy, rather than waiting and running out of time to do the process thoroughly. Having said that, one of the case studies is about a consultation made after the baby had arrived, so you will still glean some helpful info at that point too.
I found the book very interesting, helpful and easy to read
Many people don’t think about the impact a new baby will have on their family dog until they bring their baby home and problems begin to arise. They are surprised and upset when their dog’s behaviour indicates it is uncomfortable with the new addition and the change in household dynamics. Often, the situation escalates quickly to the point where the dog is relegated to the backyard, rehomed or euthanased.
Dr Kirkham’s comprehensive and informative guide can help families avoid such undesirable outcomes. He provides a proactive plan of action to prepare the dog for the new arrival, along with strategies to address commonly encountered behavioural issues. He alerts families to behavioural signs that indicate when their dog is concerned and he provides suggestions for positive behavioural modification.
The book is well laid out and easy to read, with a logical progression through the information. Photos and case studies aid in a pleasant reading experience and the CD of common baby sounds contributes another valuable facet.
As a professional positive reinforcement animal trainer I have no hesitation in recommending Dr Kirkham’s book. It is a valuable resource for prospective parents, as well as for professionals seeking appropriate information to recommend for their clients.
Derell Sayer ‘Dog Training with Derell’ Accredited Delta Instructor Certificate IV in Dog Behavioural Training Certificate IV in Training and Assessment Teacher, Delta Society Australia’s Certificate IV Companion Animal Services Course Member, Delta Professional Dog Trainers Association Member, Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia
Dr. Lewis Kirkham's Guide for Dog Owners Who Are Expecting a Baby offers informative, helpful, and sensible advice to pregnant dog owners. Kirkham provides interesting anecdotes, such as the retriever who was trained not to run to the door and knock when someone rang the doorbell, that illustrate effective training techniques. Kirkham also sets forth a long list of behaviors that indicate a potential problem area for a dog, and then describes how those problems can be addressed.
I found this guide a sensible and intelligent one, and here's how. In chapter six, Kirkham discusses how to establish routines before the baby arrives. Dogs thrive on predictability and consistency, and all members of the household must treat the dog the same, both before and after the baby arrives. Kirkham then goes on, not only in chapter six, but elsewhere, to demonstrate exactly how a dog-owner should go about applying this principle. And this is the real magic of this guide: is is both theoretical and practical.
As a Veterinarian, expecting my first child, I found "Tell Your Dog You're Pregnant: An essential Guide for Dog Owners Who Are Expecting a Baby" extremely helpful. Our dog is our fur child. After reading this book, I feel more confident that our dog and new baby can live happily together. This book offers great advice, with an easy to follow training programme. I also really enjoyed the case studies in the book, they portrayed real life situations and showed how many problems big and small can be managed and/or fixed.
I would definitely recommend this book to any dog owner that is expecting a baby. Dogs form a vital part of family life and for many couples are the 'first' child. A newborn baby can create anxiety in your much loved dog, early preparation will allow you to avoid this or develop strategies to ensure the safety of your baby and dog.
This book has got a great structure for laying out what you need to do to prepare your dog(s) for a baby in the house. I feel like what the author said made a lot of sense and the steps should be easy to follow. I will update this review (hopefully) after I've been through the process with Buffy. I don't give it 5 stars for one reason - there is a case study where he recommended euthanasia way too quickly, IMO. It made me question how much he understands that my dog is part of the family and that could never be an option, unless she was ill. However, I don't want to let one episode cloud what seems like otherwise really sound advice, that is well structured and makes me feel like I have a game plan for ensuring Buffy does well when we bring Dante home in about 5 months.
I’ve been doing a bit of different reading lately that I haven’t been able to share until now! My little reader will be arriving June 2021 💜
This is a great little resource for expecting parents who already have a fur baby! Gives you lots of practical advice and what-to-dos and what-not-to-dos, especially if you have a highly anxious dog (not so applicable to my chill GSD mix but I found nuggets in here for sure!)
And now - please share ALL your baby and pregnancy book recommendations! I would also love fiction recs of your favourite pregnancy and/or motherhood-related reads!
This is the perfect book for pregnant people who have a dog. It taught me everything we needed to know from training our dog to walk with the pram, to stopping him from barking and jumping up at the front door. There is quite a bit of work to do but the directions are very clear to understand and it is quite funny in parts too. The baby and toy noises were a 'spin out' for Maxie (my 'fur' child) but the book explained how to get him used to the sounds so that the first time he heard my newborn cry he wasn't at all concerned. The squeaky toy soundtrack was a different story though! It took a lot of practice to get him to settle down but he got there! I really liked the case studies through the book to - it brought some things to a more personal level with the author sharing some of his veterinary experiences. It’s a must read book for anyone expecting a baby and who owns a dog (I even gave it to my parents when I finished it).
Expectant parents are bound to enjoy reading "Tell Your Dog You're Pregnant." All potential dog scenarios associated with pregnancy and beyond are covered in this comprehensive book. The striking design and stunning images of dogs and their families are very appealing.
Dr Lewis Kirkham's post-graduate veterinary studies in Animal Behaviour shine through in his practical explanations. The CD included with the book provides a variety of baby sounds that readers can work through to desensitise their dog to noises they may encounter upon the arrival of baby. The desensitisation process is easily explained in the author's clear and concise writing style.
Throughout the book, the author shows his understanding of the real life challenges of raising a baby and provides entertaining case studies to break up the text.
For anyone wondering how to introduce their four-legged friend to their new baby, Dr Kirkham's book will be an informative and enjoyable read.
Based on each chapter and the advice set forth in the book, the author seems to know what they are doing. They lay out clear advice on how to introduce your dogs to the idea of a baby, then ultimately how to introduce them when you bring the baby home.
The problem is that the case studies are written in a way that doesn't make the author sound very experienced as a trainer. The worst is a case study where the author details a situation where a dog is aggressive, he talks to the parents to learn about the dogs behavior, then recommends euthanizing the dog. I understand some situations are complicated, but no where in the case study does he mention trying to help train the dog. Wouldn't a dog trainer first try to help the dog change their behaviors before recommending death? I just lost all faith in the authors abilities as a trainer after reading that. If he said "we spent 2 weeks trying to teach the dog behaviors other than resource guarding, then we gave up.", I'd be a little more understanding.
Overall there are some good tips in the book and I feel like he could omit some of the case studies and convince us he's an expert, but currently the way it is written I am not convinced.
Warning: One of the examples the author provides is of a case of a dog who had aggresive resource guarding behaviors of the bed and couch area. The dog had attacked the father which required stiches. The dog was recommended to be (and was) euthanized rather than risking a dog attack on baby. Due to the bite which had already occurred, rehoming or behavior training with the dog were not considered good options. In my personal opinion, euthanizing your dog as a way of not dealing with unwanted or aggressive behaviors is not acceptable. With proper training, and perhaps with a different home environment, I think this dog could have had a fulfilling happy life, especially given that she hadn't exhibited aggressive behaviors before the attack. I wish I had known the book included the death of a dog, because if I had known, I would not have bought it. Thankfully, Audible has a great return policy.
Okay, I initially got this book because the title and the entire thought behind telling your dog that you're pregnant is just hysterical to me. That and there is a girl in my prenatal yoga class that is seriously worried about it. That and it was free at the library and I can easily tear through a 100-page book in a day. Ok so, I was actually really surprised at how useful this book was! I found myself writing things down to try and implement in my own house with my own dog (sans baby). It was honestly just a really good dog training book with a lot of useful resources. It just happened to emphasis baby and children situations.
This book is a thoughtful guide to making sure the interactions between your dog and a new baby are successful. Even if you don't follow all the steps in the book, it will give you some valuable pointers to get your dog ready for the new baby, and ideas about what to do if your dog starts acting out after you bring your baby home.
This was a quick, concise book with several useful suggestions for preparing a dog for the arrival of a new baby. It comes with access to some other media (including sounds of a baby crying) to help habituate your canine to new stimuli.
For many, this book may be beneficial. But for a long time pet owner, an animal science graduate and someone who has worked in the veterinary field a lot of the knowledge in this book was familiar. The book is overpriced for the less than 100 pages of actual text content provided.
This book was a quick and easy read. I’m excited to get to try all of the techniques discussed throughout. I’ve tried a couple so far and I’m pleased with how they’re turning out. Hoping for an easy transition or my rescued Boston Terrier, Mac!
This was a very interesting read, however I unfortunately didn’t read it until way too late in my pregnancy. I would suggest that everyone read this book as soon as they get a dog (while the dog is still a puppy and more easily trained). Even if you do not have children or are not wanting children at the time you get a puppy, it is still a good read.
It started with lots of general information about risks with babies and pets, common baby sounds and toys that can be upsetting and confusing to dogs and then gets more specific on ways to get your dog ready for a new baby in the house. The beginning of this book is vital for all dog owners to understand how babies (even just visitors to your house) can so easily be put at risk if your dog is not used to their sounds and behaviours.
I only wish I had found this book earlier so I had time to try some of the tips before baby arrived.
As a veterinarian and expectant mom, I adored this book and will start recommending this to all my clients. It is a must read for any expectant parent.
It has excellent advice and even made me think of some things we hadn't considered (for instance our dog's water bowl poses a potential drowning hazard to a mobile baby). While the price might initially seem steep, that is because it includes a download of helpful sounds on mp3 for getting your dog accustomed to the noisier life of living with a little one.
It is a fast, easy read with helpful checklists and brief chapters - because let's be honest, you've got enough going on already you'll want to get through this fast. There are a couple short stories about real-life pets and families that make it more interesting and meaningful. Great advice on how to "read" your dog's emotional cues for signs of interest vs. nervousness vs. potentially pending aggression. Practical tips for specific problem behaviors your dog might already display.
It's all you'd expect for advice coming from a qualified veterinarian, behaviorist, and parent. Think I've found a new go-to shower gift.
I was extremely impressed by the book and its easy to read format, covering just the perfect explanation of how to tell our dogs we were pregnant. I'm a veterinarian myself and I constantly see pets having trouble coping with a new baby in the house. Parents trying so hard to do the right thing by their new baby and their existing pets, but frequently missing the mark, and it's usually the pet that misses out. So when my partner and I discovered we were expecting, we both thought of our much loved 4 dogs and how we could help them cope with the changes. The book detailed exactly how to identify changes to facial expressions and body movements which may indicate things that worried them or that they weren't as comfortable with as we thought they might be. My partner is not a vet and it was a book which made it very clear and obvious to both of us, how our pets were likely to cope and what we could do to help them. It's a book which I now regularly recommend to all of my clients who are expecting. My dogs and my new child are all too important to me not to seek its knowedge. I was really impressed by the book and found it extremely helpful to both of us.
A well written, easy to read book and an absolute essential for any parents-to-be who already have fur kids! As a fellow veterinarian I am thrilled that there is a resource like this available that I can recommend to my clients. I see the stress that a new arrival can cause to both pets and parents alike - dogs becoming destructive, cats urinating in inappropriate places - but the transition can be made much easier with the information provided by Dr Kirkham. I was prompted to look for some information as my brother is expecting twins. We have a 12 month old Golden Retriever and a 2 year old Australian Shepherd and I want to be able to offer my baby-sitting services but want to be sure that my fur kids are able to cope! Dr Kirkham is able to share his knowledge, from his additional behavioural training, and provide easy to follow, practical tips for helping prepare everyone for the new bundle of joy. I recommend this book to all my clients who are expecting.
Dr Jennifer Hutchinson BVSc. CVA (IVAS) Practice Manager and Senior Veterinarian Ballam Park Veterinary Clinic
In my work as a behavioural dog trainer, I often received calls from families who are about to have a baby and want to train their dog! Often the dog has already displayed behavioural problems and in some cases, the real thrill seekers have a brand new puppy. We are spreading the word about Dr Lewis's book and recommending it to our clients in the hope that people are better informed and can start training their furry family member well in time for their baby's arrival. There is nothing more heartbreaking than having to give up a family pet, or even worse, deal with the consequences of a preventable injury. Community eduction for people, their pets and children helps keep our children and pets safe! The advice used in this book goes hand in hand with our preferred methods of training which are gentle and force free. If you are not sure, please consult a Veterinary Behaviourist or Qualified Behavioural Dog Trainer. Congratulations Dr Lewis on a great publication!
I found this book to be reader and user friendly. There are lots of important safety tips throughout the book relating to child safety (around dogs) and all of the advice given is easy to follow and very achievable for everyday people without a dog training back ground. I especially like that positive training methods are promoted in this book and that dog owners can read about real life scenarios in the case studies throughout.The book itself is a great size/length and worth it's cost. You will get lots of info from this book and loads of training skills that you can continue to use with your dog to improve your home life, beyond the introduction of a new baby. I highly recommend this read (with CD) as it's an excellent resource for anyone seeking professional, positive advise on this topic.
This great little book is a huge asset to the expectant family with a pet dog. As a veterinarian with an interest in animal behaviour this is a topic that is often raised by clients. This book is written in an easy to understand format and it covers all areas of introducing dogs and babies very well. The Baby sounds CD and its five step program to prepare a dog for a baby's arrival is fabulous. The case studies are a great addition to the book and discuss how commonly encountered problems are dealt with. I highly recommend this superb book to all dog owners expecting a baby. I will be recommending it to all my expectant clients from now on as a easy way to answer many of their questions. Dr Esther Horton BVSc(Hons)
As a dog trainer I'm in a position to educate people on how to prevent training and behavioural problems arising. This is just obviously so much easier than having to find a solution to a problem that has developed. It is too risky not to plan ahead and act to prevent problems in a household where a baby will be introduced. Dr Kirkham's book "Tell Your Dog You're Pregnant" is easy to read and provides very important advice that, when followed, will ensure that the introduction of a baby to your household will be a safe transition for everyone. I would highly recommend this book. Lyn Witts; Delta Cert IV Dog Behavioural Instructor and Cert IV Veterinary Nurse.
I did not find this book helpful in preparing our dog for our first child. I found the training information basic and tasks, like playing the CD of baby sounds, did not influence our pet. Perhaps it's just him. He did have a difficult time with the transition but we've found ways of giving him the attention he desires, such as a dogwalker for longer walks a couple of times during the week. I think for real preparation, you'd need a trainer on-site with you to identify the potential specific issues for your dog.
Lewis Kirkham's book is excellent. It's easy to read, follow and would give the result you want for your family and your dog.
The range of sounds he's compiled to prepare the dog is realistic with it's gurgles, sucking noises, crying, rattles, crackles and squeaks.
In the huge preparation for a baby, our best friends’ feelings are too often ignored. This is (somewhat) understandable, but the consequences of not preparing your dog can range from sad to catastrophic.
Lyndy Scott, BSc BVMS MBA MANZCVS FAICD CertIV TAA
Veterinarian with special interest in animal behaviour