How do you know if your kids are ready for a dog?  And if they are, how do you prepare them for bringing that new dog home?Well lucky for you (and me) Justine Schuurmans, the expert on families, kids, and dogs,  is going to answer those questions.Justine is the founder of The Family Dog and the creator of The Dial Method.  Her work with families has greatly impacted how I work with kids and puppies to this day.  The best part?  This is part one of a two part series.  Stay tuned for part two where she talks about what to do when the your kids and the dog aren't BFFs like you planned.In this episode we talk about:Are your kids ready for a dog?Are you ready for a new dog? How much can you depend on the kids help?Why younger kids shouldn't be in charge of walking the dog. Picking the right dog for your family's lifestyle.How to prepare your kids for when the dog comes home.Press play and enjoy!Other resources mentioned and related to this episode:The Family Dog resources:  This page includes the resources both Justine and I talked about inside the interview including the video that I think EVERY parent should watch along with the Pet, Pat, Pause flyer. YNP Episode #002: Which Type of Dog is Right for You?YOUR Perfect Puppy's course:  A 4 week course to build the foundation of you and your new puppy's life together. More about Justine:Justine is a former Nickelodeon and MTV producer and dog trainer for over 20 years, specializing in working with young families. Her mission is to help parents, kids and dogs understand each other better and live safely and happily together.  She's the founder of The Family Dog, STOP THE 77 and the creator of The Dial Method.