Building Safe, Positive Relationships For Families With Kids & Dogs
Support for Navigating Life with Dogs & Children
What Kristen Can Help With:
Dogs and kids can be an amazing combination—but it doesn’t always feel easy. Whether you’re welcoming a new baby, raising toddlers around a dog, or navigating a growing child’s relationship with a longtime pet, I’m here to help families build safe, respectful, and low-stress dynamics at home.
I offer behavior support and coaching for a wide range of dog-and-kid situations, including:
Preparing your dog for a new baby or toddler in the home
Managing fear or reactivity around children
Creating safe spaces and boundaries for both dogs and kids
Helping kids understand appropriate interactions with dogs
Supporting senior dogs who may be struggling with new household activity
Teaching families how to recognize subtle signs of discomfort or stress in their dog
Helping families choose the right dog and set everyone up for success
Whether you’re dealing with conflict, uncertainty, or just want to prevent issues before they arise, I’ll work with your whole family to find a plan that feels safe, manageable, and comfortable to everyone—including your dog.
We get to know each other! I explain my philosophy and methods. We discuss your dog’s history, personality, the issues you are experiencing, and what your training goals are.
Next, we come up with a game plan and implement some first steps of management and training.
All consultations come with a detailed summary with resources and a recommended plan.
We check in and assess how things are progressing.
We move to the next steps towards accomplishing your goals with your dog through hands-on training exercises.
All follow-up sessions come with an updated summary with resources and recommendations for moving forward.
My Training Philosophy
I believe that many dogs and kids can live together peacefully, but it often takes some understanding and being proactive.
At Perked Ears, I use science-based, force-free methods that help families create safety and comfort without using fear or punishment. My goal is to support your dog’s behavioral needs while also empowering you and your children to confidently navigate life together.
I don’t believe in punishing a dog for growling or reacting—instead, we explore what’s causing that discomfort, and we give your dog the tools and support to feel safer. I also teach parents how to recognize early stress signals in dogs, set up the right environment, and build positive interactions between dogs and children that are rooted in trust.
Raising kids and dogs together can be beautiful and fulfilling—and when you have the right guidance, it can be a whole lot less stressful too. I’m here to help make that possible.
What our clients say
Kristen is a WONDERFUL trainer! We and our dog love her. She takes lots of time to gather information and get to know the dog and family, and any issues that are in play. She gave us really helpful and personalized strategies and tips, and emailed summaries after each session (SO helpful!). I also really appreciate Kristen’s background and education – she is the most educated trainer with the most expertise that I could find in our area and it shows in her work! Her fees are very reasonable and she is lovely to work with. We highly recommend her!!