The First Hello: Protect Your Newborn!

Professional animal trainer Miriam Starr Fields hosts this informative guide to training your dog for "the first hello": the introduction to a new baby in the family. The three guiding principles of the Fields method are "patience," "persistence," and "praise," and these principles are used to teach the dog basic obedience: come, sit, sit/stay, heel, etc. In addition to learning the basics, Fields also demonstrates effective ways to issue commands and reprimands, as well as break some common bad habits, such as jumping on the furniture, excessive barking, and chewing. The final quarter of the program focuses specifically on introducing the dog to the baby, and how to deal with jealousy and/or overprotectiveness (two common canine responses to the situation). Although the intention of the tape is to teach new or prospective parents how to train their dogs for an impending addition to the family (rather than get rid of the dog when the baby arrives), the principles and practices taught here constitute an excellent overall basic training course for dogs. Highly recommended. (See EL SALVADOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, 1988-1989 for availability.)