Endorsements

“I have received HUGE positive response to your book in our community training library. I can’t keep it on the shelf.”
~ Cindy Bruckart, The Puppy Playhouse, Sherwood, OR

“I wanted to take the time to thank you for writing such a GREAT book about living with dogs and kids. My passion is retired racers, and helping owners transition them from track dog to house dog. The groups I work with always recommended a book that I was uncomfortable with, in fact I believe it made dangerous recommendations. But they insisted on being able to have a resource to refer to adopters. So I was so excited when I read your book. Now I have gotten several of the greyhound rescue groups I work with to change their recommendations, and in fact the group I adopt from will be including a copy of your book to any adopter that has kids under 10.”
~ Devene Godau, CPDT, Trainers Academy, Troy, MI

“I just finished reading Living with Kids and Dogs and wanted to let you know how much I loved it. It's a terrific book, not only chock-full of info, but very "user-friendly."  You really hit the nail on the head regarding the experience of trying to manage a household of two-legged and four-legged kids. (I have boys, too.)  Thanks so much.”
~ Merope Pavlides, MS, Ph.D., CPDT, CDBC, Compliant Canines, Clarksville, MD

“Dear Colleen—Congrats for this highly deserved reward! I have your book and I liked it so much I am getting a copy for my daughter who has young children and a newly adopted dog. I was really impressed with your sensitivity and wisdom as well as your dog training and writing skill.”
~ Beverly Hebert, Holly’s Den, Houston, TX

“Colleen's book is super! I just bought 20 copies to sell to clients, my local bookstore and to make available at a local event where there will be an adoption group, a local groomer, and then me to talk to kids and parents about dogs and training. I am certain that I will have no problems selling all 20 copies.”
~ Julie Fudge Smith, A Positive Connection, Granville, OH

“This is one of the best books for families I have read in a long time. I have trained and fostered dogs and thought I was very well read on the subject. We have our own neurotic dog and recently got a puppy in the hopes of stabilizing our crazy pooch. Dealing with them both, along with our six kids, was enough to make my hair stand on end! This book came at the perfect time for our family. And even as someone professionally skilled in animal behavior, socialization, and training, this book really opened my eyes to so many aspects of having dogs in our home. I look forward to implementing many of the suggestions and organizing our chaos a bit. This is a definite must-read for any dog owner or prospective dog owner.”
~ Nicky Bradley, parenting-book reviewer for Families.com

“While there have been several books written about how to introduce a family dog to a newborn baby, Colleen Pelar has broken new ground with her Living with Kids and Dogs  . . . Without Losing Your Mind. You have a couple kid and you have a couple dog—all too often you have problems! Colleen stresses learning how to “set your family up for success” so that you can avoid behavior problems—both the canine kind and the kid kind. This is a great resource.”
~ Dogwise.com

“Living with Kids and Dogs . . . Without Losing Your Mind is a no-nonsense guide for parents that emphasizes realistic and practical solutions to common parent/pet-owner problems. A “must-have” for any parent considering a canine addition to the family.”
~ Midwest Book Reviews

“Many dog-training books are available, and certainly numerous books dispense advice on raising kids, but relatively few address both. A professional dog trainer and mother of three, Pelar provides here a remedy for the human/dog misunderstandings that can lead to dog bites (or worse), especially those involving children. Focusing on the tenets of “relationship, management, and training,” Pelar presents age-specific chapters (from birth to teens) with advice on building good relations between the dog and the child, managing their interactions wisely, and training to prevent problems from arising. A good addition to collections on parenting or pets in any public library.”
~ Kay Hogan Smith, Library Journal

“I am so glad there are people out there like you that have the verbal gift and are able to put out such wonderful books and  websites for the public to educate themselves on.  Thank you for sharing the dream in such a powerful way!”
~ Sonia Dieter, CPDT, Misunderstood Canines, Bucks County, PA

“Dogs like Lassie, Benji, and the Little Rascals’ Petey illustrate the heartwarming bonds that children can have with dogs. But unless your dog is as saintly as Lassie and your kids are perfect little angels, the kid-dog combination can also make for mischief and messes. Colleen Pelar’s book Living with Kids and Dogs . . . Without Losing Your Mind gives parents a guide to managing both their two- and four-legged children."

“Kids and dogs are each capable of creating massive destruction on their own, so when they combine forces, even the most orderly home can sink into pure chaos. But, Pelar explains, it doesn’t have to be that way. Whether bringing home a newborn or counting the days until the youngest goes away to college, parents can take steps to ensure that their home stays safe and tidy for both kids and dogs. Through the use of simple training, baby gates, and common sense, they can learn to keep everyone in the family happy and safe.”
~ Adam Goldfarb, Companion Animals Issues Specialist, Companion Animals, The Humane Society of the United States in Animal Sheltering Magazine

“Our family testers found Living with Kids and Dogs . . . Without Losing Your Mind to be an excellent resource that addresses kid-and-dog concerns through each stage of childhood. Ideally, we wish it would have to be purchased before anyone ever selects a dog as a family pet. It’s filled with important information about dogs that every parent should know.”
~ Jodie Lynn, syndicated parenting/health expert and CEO of Parent to Parent Adding Wisdom Award