YOUR BABY AND BOWSER

Your Baby and Bowser guides expectant parents, grandparents and adoptive parents in helping both the family dog and the new baby adapt to all the myriad of changes at home. If you are a dog owner who is planning a family, you probably have concerns about how your dog will respond to the new addition. If your family situation has changed in any other way that involves bringing dogs and children together, you may also have concerns. You don't need to give up your family pet! Author Stephen Rafe, a former member of the Animal Behavior Society, explains in detail how to successfully introduce the new baby and the family dog, a puppy and the baby, and toddlers and dogs. Your Baby and Bowser provides concise advice and behavior training to insure that both baby and dog will be safe, happy and secure living together in the family home.

WELCOME THE NEW BABY WITH THE RIGHT CANINE BEHAVIOR

•  Learn how to prepare the family dog for the arrival of baby.
•  Train your dog to be well-behaved around all the kids.
•  Your personality does affect your dog's behavior!
•  Key things every child needs to be taught about dogs.
•  Make sure children are safe around the dog.

Trade paperback, 6 x 9, 110 pages, illustrated.

AUTHOR STEPHEN C. RAFE

Stephen Rafe is the found of Starfire, an organization specializing in the study and teaching of behavior-based communications in animals and humans. A former member of the Animal Behavior Society and the Dog Writers' Association. Rafe is a specialist in learning theory and nonverbal communication. He has received referrals from over 200 veterinarians to assist owners whose dogs have behavior problems. He has also written 300+ magazine articles, pamphlets and manuals on canine behavior, and the book, Training Your Dog for Birdwork (nominated for a training book of the year award from the Dog Writer's Association).

YOUR BABY AND BOWSER CONTENTS

• Part I – When bowser meets baby
  •  Planning a successful introduction
  •   Joy or disaster? It's up to you
  •   Always prepare in advance
  •   Socializing bowser
  •   Understanding bowser's personality
  •   Your personality affects bowser's behavior
  •   Bowser learns how to investigate baby
  •   Bowser learns to walk with baby
  •   Bowser learns that babies cry
  •   Welcoming baby
  •   Make baby a safe place
  •   Use a screen door to isolate the baby
  •   Shhh, baby's sleeping
  •   When baby cries
  •   Safeguarding baby
  •   When baby is eating
  •   Teach bowser not to guard his food
  •   When baby starts to growl
  •   When bowser "guards"
  •   When bowser overprotects
  •   Baby's bed is not bowser's den
  •   What not to do when bowser misbehaves
  •   Toddlers and dogs
  •   Never alone
  •   Fringe benefits
  •   Bowser as victim
  •   Don't get a dog "for baby"
  •   A word about dogs that bite
• Part II – Bowser's basic training
  •   Modify behavior, teach manners, and resolve problem
  •   Who's in charge?
  •   Controlling behavior with rapport skills
  •   Teaching the basics
  •   Behavioral teaching techniques
  •   The shy or timid dog
  •   Why punishment doesn't work
  •   Is punishment ever effective?
  •   A better way
  •   Correcting minor problems

REVIEWS FOR YOUR BABY AND BOWSER

"Every dog owner should read this book, but if you have or expect to have children or grandchildren, this book's preventative wisdom is as necessary as fire insurance."                    
          – Richard K. Lore, PhD, Rutgers University

"Here is a book by an author with extensive theoretical knowledge of the subject together with a wealth of practical experience at his command. His insistence on a positive approach in the training regime is admirable . . . if you are having a baby, and the family dog doesn't know yet, read the book and then get to work. Bowser now has prenatal classes too!"         
           – David Neil, MRCVS, Professor Emeritus in Veterinary Medicine, University of Alberta and former director of animal care, Colorado State University

" . . . tells expectant parents how to help the family dog adapt to the myriad changes soon to come . . . provides essential information to help expectant parents prepare the family dog for the new arrival and to keep both baby and Bowser safe and happy." 
          – Joan Orr M. Sc., co-founder of the non-profit, "Doggone Safe for bite prevention
education".