On this week’s episode of the Step Stories Podcast, Host Robin Bruener welcomes South Africa–based animal expert and pet custody mediator Karis Nafte, author of “Who Keeps the Dog: Navigating Pet Custody During Divorce,” to discuss how pets are often overlooked in divorce and blended-family transitions. Nafte explains that sharing a dog between two homes may not work because frequent moves can stress dogs, and custody decisions should prioritize what’s best for the animal based on practical realities like housing, schedules, and the dog’s needs. She shares strategies and stories about integrating pets into new households—slow introductions, scent swapping, walking dogs together, and careful dog-cat integration—plus cases where rehoming was the healthiest choice. They also cover introducing dogs to newborns, managing pets with kids, choosing appropriate breeds, and not taking dog behavior personally.
Karis Nafte
Email: karis@whokeepsthedog.com
Instagram: iIG/whokeepsthedog
Website: www.whokeepsthedog.com
Book: Who Keeps the Dog:
Navigating Pet Custody During Divorce
Robin Breuner
Email: robinbreuner@gmail.com
Website: www.robinbreuner.com
Instagram: stepstoriespodcastIG
Facebook: stepstoriespodcastFB
Linkedin: RobinBreunerLinkIN
Podcast: StepStories Podcast
Threads: @robinbreuner
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