Adding a Baby or a Dog to Your Family? Avoid These Common Mistakes with Dominika Knossalla-Pado (E84)

Ep. 2

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[00:00:00]

Whether you're preparing your dog for a baby or preparing your family for a dog, today's episode is a must listen because no matter which way you're walking into that transition, it's emotional, it's messy, and it impacts your whole household I am joined again today by Dominica Kato, certified dog trainer and founder of Dog Meets Baby, and we're talking about what really happens when you're navigating life with kids and dogs beyond.

Just sit, stay, and shake from prac, from practical Prep to the grief and guilt that no one talks about. This episode is full of the kind of insight that helps you breathe easier and feel more prepared for the baby, the dog, and everything in between. My name is Chrissy Bold.

I am a stay at home mom to two little boys, and this is Mom's Guide to Finding Herself

DOA Sal Pado is back with us today and I am so excited to have her in the last episode, she shared her deeply personal journey into motherhood. One that included twins postpartum anxiety, and an unexpected and terrifying moment with her beloved [00:01:00] dog. Lola, if you miss that episode, pause this one and go Give that one a listen. It is powerful and a must hear. This week we're shifting into Dominica zone of genius. Dominica is a certified dog trainer and founder of the online platform, dog meets Baby, where she supports families with dogs. Now, here's the thing.

When I had my first baby, I was lucky enough to stumble across her account on Instagram, and it changed everything for me. I've always been a little nervous around dogs, and her posts help me feel calmer and more prepared. She showed me what to actually look for in my dog's behavior, what's normal, what's not, and how to create safety without the panic.

In this episode, Dominica is going to walk us through what's really going on when your relationship with your dog changes after a baby arrives. How to prepare your dog for a baby, or prepare your baby for a dog, and why training is only one piece of the puzzle.

This episode is packed with simple, realistic shifts that can make your home safer, [00:02:00] calmer, and more connected for everyone, furry or not.

Krissy: So Monika, thank you so much for coming back. I really enjoyed our conversation last week and I am so excited to hear about all of your experience this week.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: wait to talk to you.

Krissy: So I found Dog Meets Baby when I had my first baby in 2021. And my sister is a dog trainer, so I knew the importance of preparing my dog. My dog had been there for me when I was single and I bought my first home. And then my, my, my husband, you know, it's one of those like movie moment stories and I knew that he, she was preparing me for my, my baby.

I knew that things would be different after. And thankfully I found your account because I have a lot of dog anxiety. I just, in general, like when I see a new dog, I don't know what to expect. And it helped me so much to actually see what signs to look for and what things to be nervous about or aware of, less than nervous [00:03:00] and, and what things are just dog behavior.

Um, and, and what, what things might just be like playful and cute. So I wanna talk today about that first baby feeling because my dog truly was my first baby. You know, she was there with me through all of it. And then I had her, or had my son and it was different. Uh, he, she, she was no longer my first baby.

He was, he, he felt like my baby. And it, it was just, it was like everything that was important before didn't, wasn't important anymore, including her. Is that common?

Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: I hear it a when every, we post a lot about grief and, and guilt and resentment. in when you the baby home that you, you, you, you develop those feeling feelings toward your dog and it is definitely very common. Now. It's not going to help to [00:04:00] happen to everyone.

Some parents

they share that um, that things are different, but they love and appreciate the dog the same and the the dog is a great support system for them.

Or, um, it, so it, it doesn't mean that once you have a baby, your dog will take a place.

Um, but for many,

for many parents,

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: And the dog,

um, mom said it, when I went to the hospital, left my fur baby home. When I came home, my dog greeted me.

Krissy: Oh

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: Right. So it's kind of like

she went from this like fair to a dog.

Krissy: Yeah,

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: remember exactly how she said it, but

that's

Krissy: that's it.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: many parents feel

that it's you know, it's um, [00:05:00] It's not your fair baby anymore.

Krissy: Yeah. That's such a perfect way of capturing that feeling. Oh my gosh.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: I

Krissy: way you said it was perfect too, so, yeah, I I love that. I'm gonna hang on to that. I think that's beautiful and heartbreaking in, in a lot of ways, but

yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: you don't

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: it's not like you've you, but And for some parents it, it changes and

the love changes for your dog. The, what's important to you changes. And, and it did. Of course, it, it changed for me too. And, I think the fact that I, um, as we talked last week that, you know, I brought my kids home and then my dog was hunting for them.

Krissy: Yeah

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: was shocking.

I I didn't expect that and felt like [00:06:00] I, she is a dog, um, with instincts and um, I saw that and that was terrifying.

Krissy: Right Now let's talk about how we can prepare our dogs for a change. You know, maybe it's a new baby, maybe it's somebody else's new baby coming to visit or a, a new home. Like, I'm sure there's a lot of pieces that, you know, maybe it's a new baby, maybe it's just something different that is really similar.

What are some of the most important things we can do for preparing our dogs?

Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: Yeah.

Krissy: Let's start there. Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: Yeah.

because it it kind of

So

Krissy: Okay.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: um, this will, this might sound a little bit harsh to some parents and I absolutely understand it. because when you're pregnant, all you want is to cuddle [00:07:00] with your dog and hang out together.

And a lot of times your dog becomes more clingy and they just become your shadow and they just follow the pregnant mom

everywhere And, um. You're together a lot.

Krissy: Yeah,

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: And then when you have a

baby as

you

Krissy: yeah

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: right? Like it's, it's, not just you and the

dog you the baby. It's you

Krissy: Yeah

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: trapped, it's you burping the baby.

It's you walking with the baby at night. because your baby has colleague, you know, many, like, it's just

different.

Krissy: Yeah

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: I think the most important is to, to see the things from your dog's perspective, because they will be different. And if your dog

is now with you 24 7. And things will change later because they will, they, they absolutely will.

Then [00:08:00] not helping your dog if they're with you all the time. It's going to be very hard on some dogs, especially the ones that are very bonded with you or maybe a little bit anxious. It's going to be very hard on them, that change. So I always tell parents, of course, spend time with your dog, but building some time alone, time when you, you go to the bathroom, close the door, don't let your dog follow you. Uh, spend some time

in

the

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: Um you, you,

can have a gate, you a butter con for your dog, or a bone or a chew. So your dog has something to do. They can see you, but make sure that your dog is not in your, um, lab all the time when you sit on the floor. And it's something that's really worth practicing because as new parents, we spend a lot of

time on

the

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: So when you sit on the

floor and

your dog immediately in your lap, I can tell you from experience [00:09:00] that you may not like that because you may be very touched out and it's not really, you know, like you want to be with your child in that moment, or you just don't want any, anyone to touch you, but you, you want to focus on, on your baby and your dog, but you don't want anyone in your lap in that moment. So teach your dog to be okay being next to you. So these are like simple things where prepare your dog for what's coming and it. mean that you to ignore your dog 24

7. No, No,

because then you'll make it worse.

But it's just, on the modified bedrest to, um,

to

give

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: like to use me as an example, um, I sure that some of this time was, um, behind a

gate,

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: right?

It,

I didn't like it.

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: I was making sure that she was

coming It was after a She was well [00:10:00] exercised. She was, um, just napping.

Krissy: Yeah.

Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: but

I didn't know back

Krissy: yeah

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: would be so

helpful, but it was

something that I really,

I'm, really glad that I

Krissy: Dominic, this is like the most basic advice, truly, but like it's earth shattering, like, it's like, it makes so much sense. We, when we're hunkered down in those last couple months of pregnancy and you don't wanna leave the couch, all you wanna do is snuggle 'cause you're nesting and have all the feels, but you're showing your dog that that's how life is right now.

And then, yeah, it, it's so logical. It makes so much sense. But Thank you for sharing that.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: very welcome

Krissy: Now, a lot of our listeners right now aren't necessarily preparing for a new baby, but they might be preparing for a new dog. How is that process [00:11:00] different

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: it depends, um, how old is your child?

I

would,

Krissy: Hmm.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: would, put it this way, right? So if you.

I know families, brave parents who have a puppy and a newborn, and

kudos

to

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: I could never do it,

because it is a lot of But if this is important to you to have a puppy and a newborn so they grow up together, it can be

done

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: But it, it's going to be, of course, very

different than if you have three-year-old and a five-year-old, and then you decide to get a dog

so that the, the of your children when you get a puppy matters. I do think that, um, um, and you know, like if you talk, I, I talk to, uh, to psycho child psychologist, there is something about the age of [00:12:00] four, uh, like when children turn four, then you know, it, it, that's when they start listening a lot.

Like, you know, they will follow instructions. They will, um.

have better impulse control. They, first of all, you can talk to

them,

Krissy: Mm-hmm.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: explain things, and they will

follow through taller. So this is like, to me, as a trainer, it matters a lot because, their head will be above the dog's head.

And that's something that is very, very, it, it makes a huge

difference if

you think about it, because the reason

why There's so many, like many families with, with newly mobile children, and all those bites are to dog faces because their, their

heads

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: level.

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: just it's, just always it's the, it's the face. But if your child is higher, it's safer.

Krissy: Mm-hmm

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: they're also not clumsy anymore. Right? Like,

they

don't

Krissy: [00:13:00] Mm-hmm

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: more predictable. Like

they yes, of course children

and

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: to like run and scream, but, you know, it's,

it's, it's, there are not so milestones

Krissy: Sure.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: that docs experience with much

younger children where it's sitting and pulling up to standing and walking and, you know, like falling.

Krissy: Mm-hmm.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: Um, so it is,

um. Like it is a good age. Like, like, you know, if I were to choose and my, I have a younger sister and she actually listened to me and she got a, she got her dog, she has three kids. She has three sons, and she got her first dog when her youngest turned four.

And you know, she said she, she like

thanked me later She was like, you know, was a great

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: It really felt

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: easy and

my experience because we used to,

to do a lot of born and train, so dogs were coming to my house and it felt it was a lot of [00:14:00] work

Krissy: Yeah

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: kids turned four. Um,

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: once they it

became more fun. It we all could enjoy it.

Of course I had to supervise. It wasn't like all great and easy, but

it was much easier. because they can also do things

right,

Krissy: Yeah

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: like.

Krissy: Yep

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: Uh, when I told them,

ask the dog to If the dog doesn't drop it, grab a different toy or take a treat,

right?

Like

Krissy: Yep.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: they were able to understand

this play with the dog and it was much safer.

So, yes, it's, um, you know, it's, this is, um, that I would recommend,

but I

Krissy: Yeah,

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: that if you don't want to

wait get Just have a

plan.

Krissy: just have a plan. Oh my goodness. Now you have a resource that would be really helpful for making that plan, don't you?

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: haven't but [00:15:00] I think we're going to like officially release it this

month.

Krissy: great.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: is a dog.

Uh a dog meets family. That's what, that's the

Krissy: Ooh, great name.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: dog meets family,

preparation baby preparation checklist.

And this one is for parents of, uh, you know, expecting

parents dog meets family

preparation checklist who are, who already have children and they want to get a dog. Um, it's for, um, parents who are getting, or families who are getting dogs from shelters, rescues, or from a breeder. Like we do recommend if, you know, if you have, I would say if you have two children, young children, um, do your research.

If you, um, yeah, if you want to get a

dog from a breeder, a responsible breeder.

No,

Krissy: Yeah,

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: backyard breeder.

Krissy: great advice. And I'm sure that that resource is jam packed [00:16:00] with all of those kinds of gems because you never leave things dangling you, always throw in as much value as possible.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: you

Krissy: Now you've mentioned before that training isn't the whole picture. Um, it's an important part of the picture. It's not the whole thing.

So I'm assuming that, you know, everybody thinks when they get a dog, we should enroll in a training program one way or another. Is that just for puppies?

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: get, like, I got Lola when she was eight

months

Krissy: Yeah,

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: She was technically not a

puppy

Krissy: yeah,

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: Yeah,

training is you, if you, and if

you get an older dog, the dog.

So

Krissy: yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: I always recommend training.

you don't, tell parents, your dog does not have to know 20 cues, 20 behaviors. Um, it's much better if they know. Like 20. And, and you know, it's like selective

hearing.

Like, [00:17:00] like the dog sometimes listens,

sometimes doesn't it's much better to or

five,

Krissy: Sure.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: them really well

and something that you actually

Krissy: Mm.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: if someone

loves training, train your

dog.

But if you don't have time, if you

have limited time, on things that are actually going to be very useful.

Like if you're expecting focus on the things that you're going to need, which is like go to bed and preferably you saying it, not pointing because you might be holding your baby so you might be able to just use your elbow, right? So just like, like doing things that, um, are useful, going to be useful.

Krissy: That's such a great point because even when you go to a training class with maybe an older family or or an older dog, older children, you, might not be able to point even when, so even if you're not holding into more and you've got all kinds of things going on. So yeah, you need that verbal cue. And even if you're adopting an [00:18:00] older dog who you feel like is well trained, it, I'm assuming it's a really great bonding exercise.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: I think it can be frustrating

Krissy: Hmm.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: if you don't see the

results right away, or if that training philosophy does not align with your philosophy. Right? Like, sometimes parents tell me, oh you know, I signed up for a training program and they used aversives, so there was a lot of punishment and it just didn't feel good.

Right?

or

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: parents are like, I really don't like

clickers And it was just very to me and it just didn't feel like. clicking the

right

Krissy: Right.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: And I just, I just couldn't really

like master it and I wish I it. Right. So it's like, it's, it's more about like finding what works for you. um, um, and then I think [00:19:00] then it's more fun

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: um,

yeah, I personally, when I work with clients, we focus on something that's useful and then we just apply it in everyday

life.

So

Krissy: Mm-hmm.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: really feels like they have to

train and dedicate a of time, but it's like, okay, when you feed your dog, just ask the dog for a sit

Krissy: Yep.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: that moment.

So once they sit,

you can put the, the food right So we're just practicing things that, are useful in everyday life and they're training vote, knowing that they actually train.

Krissy: Yeah, for definitely yes. Make it part of your regular life. Make it part of your regular routine. Yeah. And even if you can't get to a class, I know that like I live in a rural area or like my family does too, and it's, it can be like a 30 minute drive to get to the thing. And when you to a class, when you already have kids, it's tough.

So building it into your regular routine [00:20:00] isn't a great way to do it. But also you talked about the other pieces of the puzzle. So what are those other things that you can do to help prepare either baby for dog or dog for baby or dog for family, whatever. Um, whatever the listener here is, is preparing for.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: other, to the

other

Krissy: Hmm.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: I, I also wanna say that you can,

there's a lot of right?

Krissy: Yes.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: you can either take a class

or a course or like look YouTube. So there is, it's not. I would say it's much easier now to, um, to train your

dog

Krissy: what a good point.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: is great and,

um absolutely I love training as a trainer, but I do rely as a mom on management a

lot.

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: um, gates are

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: Wide noise machines are

great Air that are allowed are [00:21:00] great. I do use them for dogs. Uh, puzzle toys are great to keep your dog occupied. You don't, you know, if you don't have tiff, you're recovering from C-section and or the weather is not great or your baby's sick. You can do, like prepare puzzle toys, like free some, some food or kibble or treats in the, in a cong or a different puzzle toy, and then give it to your dog so they can have something to do. so there are just, I'm a huge fan of management. Like I, I love window films for dogs who bark. I think it's, I know how much barking irritates parents. Like kids will sleep through it. But you as a new parent, the, the sensory overload is real.

And a barking dog

will can [00:22:00]

Krissy: Yeah,

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: if you just put a window

film

Krissy: Yeah,

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: your your dog

is that's a trigger. It can change everything

for

Krissy: Mm-hmm.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: Um, you reduce the barking by You don't really have to train your dog. If you don't have time and you're sleep deprived. You can do simple things like wide nose machine and a window film and maybe, um, off the, the well or like, you

know,

like,

Krissy: Yeah

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: something different, like have a different system. So there's just you can do

um, you have a new baby

and

Krissy: Mm-hmm.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: for training

Krissy: Yeah.

Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: doing this

Krissy: Yes

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: feel like

dog but

I

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: feel like training her in the,

like the first six months I not okay. You know, I really didn't [00:23:00] feel like myself. I had two kids. One was a medical

child and it was just like, I, I really didn't feel like it would bring me.

Krissy: Oh,

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: that time? I don't know. I haven't tried it.

I still I still was with my dog could, and that was very helpful,

Krissy: mm-hmm.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: I really didn't have time

or mental energy or like, I, I just didn't feel like training her back then.

Krissy: Absolutely. 100%. I understand that. Totally. And some things you don't know, you'll need to train until you're in it, until you're, you're living it and you're like, oh, this behavior is really like, not okay. But I don't have time to try to alter that, modify that behavior, so I'm just gonna have to prevent it.

Let's, let's stick up that gate. Let's do those things. And there's no shame in that.

You called it. Yeah,

yeah,

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: like well, who cares? [00:24:00] Like all I care

about

Krissy: yeah. Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: that my dog barks less like using any aversive

methods. I'm just using something that's.

looks good. And, um, everyone's better

off after that.

Krissy: I think you called it realistic success, and that

speaks to me.

Oh

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: for

Krissy: yes, absolutely. Now you have so many incredible resources on your Instagram page and your website. Can you tell us a little bit about what you offer?

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: we have many freebies. I was actually talking to someone yesterday and I was like, I think we have 25,

Krissy: Ah,

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: don't really know. I don't really know. It's,

it's some of them are very

Krissy: sure.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: longer, and some of them are,

um like um, what to do, [00:25:00] um, if a dog bites your child.

And this is something that we did with a psychologist and, uh, er pediatrician. So it's just, you know, some of them are, um. Something that you hopefully never

need,

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: in case you need, it's there.

we have and the courses are for the pre-baby phase and the post-baby phase when you have a toddler or your baby starts crawling your dog is not having it, or you just want to be prepared. Um, and then there is a dog body language course that, um, many families, many parents who don't have children, buy and like a lot because there are children everywhere, right? Like you are not going to be able to like, like, like going through life with your dog. Never being around a child is very unlikely. So, um, good be prepared, especially if you don't have children or don't have children yet, [00:26:00] you don't expect the stuff that a child might do. I had no idea like that. There are certain things that. S do, like poking the ice, right? So it's, it's something that also gives you, prepares you for what your dog might experience if you take them to a friend's house and they have little kids

and

Krissy: Yeah

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: have barriers. Um, so you know what to Um, so yeah, that's, um, that's, these are the courses. And I have a, book. I wrote a children's book that's coming up, um, this month

hopefully.

Krissy: Oh my gosh. Can you tell us about that book?

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: Yes called Lola and the Bubble Mission. And, like I love stories and I was always telling my children stories and they, they love them [00:27:00] Um, I also love, like the, one of the, it was, I think it was a psychologist who recommended it that, um, when you prepare a child for like a new or they're going to a new preschool, um, or, or like, you know, like going to a

doctor,

like, like a different doctor, then

their usual doctor, um, to draw it. So I was always drawing things for my children. I cannot draw, like I'm not an illustrator, but they really like, they really loved it

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: it al it always helped them

so so much.

Um, when I

was like explaining and preparing them through drawings and I was always surprised, like how much, like we were going back to that drawing so much,

right?

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: like, loved

Krissy: Yeah

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: talking about this and we were just

Like, I felt like but they, it really like, you know, that, that way they

were

Krissy: [00:28:00] Yes.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: you know, like when you read to

children right Like

Krissy: Oh yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: certain book every

night

Krissy: yep.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: months, they,

they but that's how they learn

Krissy: yep

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: that,

Krissy: repetition. Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: um, yeah, so that, you know, like I. There are many great books for

children,

Krissy: Mm-hmm

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: books that are absolutely horrible.

Like the way the what they like,

it's it's it's just

so But I, you know, like

I I know like, because I work with families, with children, I have children, so I, I have tested what, you know, the, the things that I teach families on so many families at this point, that there are certain things that just work just so you know, like with many, many children. And so the book shows a very simple concept that, I have tested on my own children or many other children [00:29:00] that I think if it's in a form of a book where you can like read

it

Krissy: Mm-hmm.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: again, it can just

sink because, um, this, um. I think it's very, you know, working with a toddler, a toddler is a very complicated client.

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: And, um, so

it's you cannot just a consult and like, okay, we're going to work with a toddler,

Krissy: Yep.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: Like a 15 month old for an hour.

Absolutely not.

Like,

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: seconds might not be enough. So

you, I have to parents.

Krissy: Yep,

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: I have to teach the parents what to

do times this is, you know, I need to give them a tool

Krissy: yep,

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: going to work.

I think, you know, that book will be a tool

Krissy: yep.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: I have courses,

but the

Krissy: Mm.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: parents and I kind of

what to do But I something that will be for the child,

Krissy: [00:30:00] Mm-hmm.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: also for the parent,

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: something where

sit together and, it together in point and then like. The concepts will sink in. So everybody is safer,

right? Like

Krissy: Yeah,

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: that the dog is safe, the child is

safe there are not so many dog bites. You know,

people

Krissy: yeah,

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: about it. No one really posts on, on

social media very few people But,

Krissy: yeah,

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: um, yeah, if you

talk to any er if you talk to any trainer, there are many dog bites.

Krissy: yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: many people just don't talk about

them So like, I, remember at some point I was just so depressed because I constantly was watching the pictures. like

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: my parents were sending me a picture of their

child after a dog bite. And I was this is too much. We have to do something. And yeah, so I do, you know, like I, I was like, okay, this is that's, [00:31:00] um. part of it's like Lola died this year

and you

know, she was such a big part of why I started Dog

Meet's Baby. And I was like, let Lola continue

Krissy: Yeah.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: the families

and keeping everyone safe, not here, but she's going to live through the book or hopefully the books.

Krissy: I love that. And what an important mission to help prevent Bob Dog bites from, from little ones because they're so curious and they don't know. Yeah. So that's incredible. Wow. I, that's going to be such a helpful resource for so many families, whether they have a dog or whether they're preparing for a dog or whether they're just out in the world.

Let's, let's prevent those dog bites. Yeah, absolutely. Well, thank you so much for your time today, Dominica. I really appreciate it and I loved learning from you.

Dominika Knossalla-Pado: talking to you.

Krissy: Thank you.

If you'd liked this episode, go ahead and share it with a friend, especially one who's pregnant, has a dog, [00:32:00] or is thinking about adding either of those to the mix. And if you haven't already, take a second to follow the show and leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts. Every single share and rating helps this podcast reach more moms who need to feel seen, supported, and a little less alone.

Now, have you ever gotten to the end of the day and realized you didn't make a single decision just for you? Not what you ate, not what you listened to, not even what you thought about. And then that quiet thought, sneaks in. When did I stop existing outside of everyone else's needs. If motherhood has you feeling like you're slowly fading into the background of your own life, the next episode is for you. We're talking about how to protect what you are while you're raising kids, not by doing more, not by finding yourself, but by learning how to stop disappearing in the first place.

Until then, take a moment for yourself and remember that you are an amazing mom just the way you are.

[00:33:00]