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Dog and Toddler Training in San DiegoFamily Paws’ Dogs & Toddlers Program

While you can expect the entire dynamic of your home to shift once your toddler becomes active, it’s necessary to help prepare your dog for everything that comes with this stage. Take the step towards a calmer and more harmonious home with safety training for toddlers and dogs.
Kindred Dog’s dog training services in San Diego are driven to help families teach dogs and kids to live together safely and happily.

Family Paws Training: Dogs & Toddlers

Why Training Matters

It’s natural for toddlers to move unexpectedly and engage with their surroundings with curiosity and zeal. However, your dog may need help adjusting to this new stage. By managing the environment, “reading” your dog’s comfort level, and supervising, you can guide their interactions towards a safer and more positive direction.
At Kindred Dog, we offer compassionate, science-based dog and toddler training in San Diego to teach positive and gentle dog behavior around kids. 

The Family Paws Dogs & Toddlers program encourages healthy respect and boundaries with both the dog and the child. 
Kindred Dog uses training methods that focus on prevention, not punishment.

Kindred Dog Owner Susie Petrucci is a Licensed Family Paws Parent Educator. The Family Paws Dogs & Storks® Program is also offered by Kindred Dog.

Training Focus

  • Safe greetings and space management
    Whether you’re frequently visited by family and friends who have toddlers, or your own children are now at that stage, introductions can be stressful for households with dogs and toddlers. That’s why we focus on teaching your pet safe greetings with toddlers and encourage gentle interactions through empathy-forward training methods.
  • Calm behavior during playtime and meals
    As part of our dog and toddler training services, we help families in San Diego plan what they would like their dog to be doing and where they would like their dog to be during toddler playtime and meals. We set both the toddler and the dog up for success by offering safe, exploratory spaces for each one.
  • Desensitization/counterconditioning/habituation to toddler noises and movements
    Part of our dog training around small children involves helping dogs get used to toddler noises and erratic movements. Another function of this focus is to encourage checking in with the adult for support if the dog is feeling overwhelmed.
  • Teaching foundation cues such as sit, stay, down, place, touch, “leave it,” and “drop.” 
    We focus on instilling boundaries with dogs and toddlers as part of our safety training to help families avoid hazardous situations where food or toys may be involved.

San Diego Dog Training Services

Kindred Dog supports a range of family dynamics in San Diego with fear-free dog training.

Puppy Training

Early training promotes positive socialization and healthy habits that your dog can maintain throughout life for a harmonious home dynamic.

Includes 4–6 private sessions available in person or virtually, personalized to your puppy’s needs.

Adolescent & Adult Dog Training

Beyond the puppy stage, fear, reactivity, and anxiety can be helped using gentle, evidence-based behavior strategies that create lasting change.

Includes 4–6 customized private sessions available virtually or in person.

Behavior Modification

A tailored, fear-free approach to addressing reactivity, anxiety, fear, or other challenging behaviors in your dog promotes a positive environment for your dog and your family.

Includes 4–6 private sessions available in person or virtually.

Why Choose Kindred Dog?

We offer science-based dog and toddler training in San Diego for families who wish to build a deeper, more empathetic relationship with their pets. Our education-based approach encourages both the pet and its owner to collaborate in the learning process, fostering a deeper understanding between them.

Through our methods, we help families with children and toddlers build harmonious environments for safe interactions.

As a Licensed Family Paws Parent Educator, Kindred Dog’s founder, Susie Petrucci, Ed.S., brings advanced education training and specialized credentials to this work. Our focus is on fear-free, family-centered training for long-term harmony.

Discover Healthy Dynamics

Foster safety and peace of mind for your family and a healthy environment for your dog’s growth. Schedule your free consultation for dog and toddler training in San Diego today.