Dogs & Storks
Bringing home a baby is one of the most exciting and overwhelming chapters in a family's life. But while you're busy preparing for the newest (tiny) family member, it's easy to forget that your dog is going through a big transition, too.
That's where Dogs & Storks® comes in.
Dogs & Storks® is a two-hour introductory workshop led by certified trainer and Licensed Family Paws Educator Fina Garcia, designed to help expecting families, adoptive parents, and caregivers of infants up to three months old prepare their dogs for life with a baby.
Through compassionate, practical strategies, you'll learn how to thoughtfully set your home-and your dog-up for success. We'll explore how to prepare your environment, introduce baby-related sounds and gear, read canine body language, and promote calm, inclusive routines. We'll also discuss common questions like "Will my dog be jealous of the baby?" or "Do we need to move where our dog sleeps?"
In this people-only workshop, you'll gain insights into your dog's learning history, sensitivities, and subtle communication signals. You'll leave with actionable tips you can begin using right away to foster a smooth transition and help prevent the kinds of misunderstandings that can put young children at risk or lead to dogs losing their homes.
Offered virtually once a month, this session is perfect for moms, dads, partners, grandparents, and any family members who want to be proactive, compassionate, and prepared for this exciting change.
What You'll Learn
In this introductory workshop, we'll explore how to thoughtfully support your dog before and after baby arrives. You'll walk away with a better understanding of what your dog may be experiencing, and how small changes now can lead to big wins later. We'll cover:
- Preparing your home: Layout tips, management tools, and how to make your dog’s space feel safe and predictable
- Understanding your dog’s perspective: How dogs may perceive pregnancy, new routines, and baby-related changes
- Body language basics: Learn to spot early signs of stress, discomfort, or excitement in your dog
- Creating “Success Stations”: How to use safe zones, boundaries, and enrichment to promote calm behavior
- Safe inclusion strategies: Ways to include your dog in baby-related routines while keeping everyone safe and relaxed
- Homecoming prep: What to do before, during, and after baby’s arrival to ease the transition for your dog
You’ll also receive helpful handouts, planning prompts, and family-friendly language to share what you’ve learned with other caregivers.
This class is meant to introduce key ideas and jump-start the conversation. For more personalized support, I’m always happy to guide families through private training tailored to their dog and household.
Why It Matters
Even the most loving, well-behaved dog can struggle when everything in their world suddenly changes. Our goal is to help you feel empowered—not overwhelmed—with the knowledge and tools to support both your dog and your growing family with empathy, structure, and clarity.
Because this isn’t just your baby’s big debut—it’s a new chapter for your dog, too.
Upcoming Class Dates
Class Size & Waitlist Info
To ensure a supportive and engaging learning experience, both in-person and virtual group classes are limited to 10 participants. This allows plenty of time for discussion and personalized Q&A. If a class fills up before you’re able to register, don’t worry—email me to join the waitlist! If more than 5 people want to join the waitlist for a particular session, I’ll schedule an additional class within a week to make sure no one misses out. Your questions matter, and I want everyone to feel seen, heard, and supported.
Frequently asked questions
looking for more personalized support?
Upgrade to the Dogs & Storks Loyal Pawrent Program! You’ll get all the workshop content plus downloadable PDFs, one full year of access, quick quizzes to boost learning, guided assignments, and a dedicated 60-minute Paw-to-Paw coaching call with me. This is the best option if you want tailored guidance to apply the concepts to your unique dog, home, and family dynamics.
Life with dogs (and babies on the way!) can be busy — so if you can’t make it to a live session, you don’t have to miss out on this essential prep. Take the self-paced Dogs & Storks course instead!
Why This Upgrade Is Worth It?
This program takes the foundation of the workshop and adds:
- Interaction – real feedback, real coaching
- Accountability – guided prompts and assignments
- Personalization – support tailored to your dog
- Consistency – one year of access to revisit as the baby grows
- Confidence – because being proactive changes everything
You’re not just learning how to prepare your dog— you’re implementing it with an expert in your corner.
Because every dog is different—and every family deserves support that fits their reality.
