Hey Lauren: Thanks for sharing your story. Sounds like this family worked so hard to “do the right thing!” Bet those wet pants caused lots of good fodder for discussions and laughs!

So funny, Adele! I love it how your provider didn’t miss a beat. What a positive and nonjudgmental “take” on this situation. Kudos to your DS provider!

Oh dear, Pam! I’m guessing the dog was “overly fond” of you. I think you ask a great question. While the easiest thing might be to ask the parent to remove the critter to another room, the reality is that when you leave, that pet is going to be right back in the midst of the family’s life. (It reminds me of when I hear a parent tell a sibling to go to another room because “it’s Johnny’s therapy time”–shudder, shudder, shudder!) I wonder if some coaching might help with this situation? Perhaps asking the parent how they solve this situation when other visitors come to the home? Or maybe asking their ideas of what the parent might think could be a good solution so that the dog is not banned from the room but the early intervention can re-focus on the child and the family?

I love animals but think, sometimes, pet behaviors can rule an intervention session. I had one situation where I was kneeling on the floor and the next think I knew, I had 2 dog paws on my shoulders and guess what he was doing?! The mother pulled him off but this happened a few more times during that session. After that, I sat on a chair!

I do know that there are many families who are sensitive to the presence of their dogs, cats, etc., and are more than willing to put them in another room during intervention visits if they are a major distraction. I wonder,though, if the pets are a part of the natural learning environment, should we allow them to stay, regardless of barking, drooling, etc.?

Nathan: This gives whole new meaning to having fried chicken at a picnic! UGH!

No worries, Nathan! Geez, with running across dead chickens and getting bitten by small dogs (you should add that story here too…funny!), you have your plate full! That was a good idea to call Animal Control, although you probably spoiled the day for a lot of dogs! 🙂

Dana

Good thing YOU weren’t allergic to cats, Deana! That is A LOT of cats. Guess you and the two cats with their paws on your shoulders were quite cozy by the end of that visit!