Welcome to The Yappy Hour, powered by Yappily!
Kids and dogs can be the best of friends, but only when we set both up to feel safe, understood, and respected. In this episode of The Yappy Hour powered by Yappily, Nathan chats with Debby Lucken, dog trainer, behaviourist, author, and founder of Kids Around Dogs (KAD).
Together they unpack the real-life stuff families need: stress signals and body language, consent and boundaries, active supervision, preventing problems before they start, and Debby’s structured protocol for children (and adults) with a fear of dogs, plus practical ways to rebuild trust if things have felt tense at home.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ The most-missed dog stress signals (like yawning, lip-licking, shaking off) and what they really mean
✅ Why family dogs are often involved in more incidents, and how to prevent them
✅ The difference between “supervision” and active supervision (and why it matters)
✅ How to teach kids dog consent in a way they actually understand and remember
✅ Practical home set-ups: gates, pens, safe spaces, and reducing risky interactions
✅ What to do when dogs take children’s toys, and how to prevent resource issues escalating
✅ Debbie’s approach to supporting children with a fear of dogs (and how it can help adults too)
✅ How to rebuild trust if something has gone wrong in the past
✅ Why involving children in training (safely) creates calmer dogs and more respectful kids
Key Takeaways:
- Active supervision is a safety tool, not “being nearby while scrolling your phone.”
- Dogs communicate discomfort early; families often miss the subtle signs.
- Consent builds trust (and prevents escalation) for both kids and dogs.
- Management matters: gates, playpens, and thoughtful routines reduce risk.
- Fear of dogs is often triggered by chasing (bikes/scooters) — prevention is possible.
- If you’re dealing with resource guarding or rising tension, get professional support early.
Find a Kids Around Dogs (KAD) approved specialist on Yappily 👉
Thanks for tuning in! Let’s celebrate the joy and challenges of dog parenting together, because we’re all here for the dogs.
Connect with Debby
KAD Kids Around Dogs® | Facebook
Kids Around Dogs Facebook Group
Connect with Nathan and Yappily
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