When parents separate, decisions about the family pet often become as emotionally charged as arrangements for the children themselves. Many families assume that having the dog move between homes with the children provides comfort and stability—but is this always in the pet's best interest?

This specialized training equips parent coordinators with evidence-based guidance on pet custody arrangements that prioritize both children's attachment and animal welfare. You'll learn to help families create realistic, sustainable plans that work for everyone—including the pets.

What You'll Learn:

• How to assess whether a dog is truly bonded to the children (versus the adults in the household)

• When shared custody works for pets—and when it creates unsustainable stress

• Signs that a pet custody arrangement is failing and what to recommend instead

• Best practices for facilitating smooth transitions between homes (decompression time, routines, consistency)

• Species differences: why cats almost never thrive in shared custody arrangements

• How to help parents maintain consistency in rules, routines, and expectations across two homes

• Behavioral warning signs that indicate a pet is struggling with the arrangement

• Alternative solutions when traditional shared custody isn't working

Why This Matters:

What seems fair to divorcing parents may not serve the animal's welfare. This course provides you with the knowledge to guide families toward arrangements that are truly sustainable long-term—protecting both the parent-child relationship and the pet's wellbeing.

Taught by Karis Nafte, CDBC and Accredited Family Mediator, creator of the first pet custody education program for divorce professionals.

Two hour online course $140