Bert Swope
Raising a puppy with children is an immense responsibility, and it’s essential that both you and your pup learn how to safely interact with one another.
Children need to understand that the puppy is a living being that should be respected and taught impulse control. This process may be challenging at first, but it will prove fruitful in the end.
Getting a Puppy
Many children are delighted when their parents adopt a puppy. They spend summer and school breaks playing in the yard or ruining leaf piles with muddy boots and dog treats.
Before your kids can fully embrace their furry companion, they must be made aware of the responsibilities that come with raising a puppy. They should know that they must provide for all aspects of care and training for their pet as well as clean up after it when needed.
They must always be watched and taught proper puppy interaction. While this may take some time and patience, the rewards will be great in the end.
Children should never climb on a puppy or grab its ears or tail as this could cause injury. Furthermore, they should take great care not to eat the puppy’s food as this could present potential choking hazards.
Children should learn to use the come command if they feel uneasy during an interaction with a puppy, helping avoid further confrontations and potential injuries. They must also learn how to read the puppy’s body language and respond appropriately.
Puppies love to play, but can become frustrated if not allowed to do so safely. Having plenty of appropriate toys on hand to redirect the pup’s attention makes it easier for children to maintain a positive interaction with their pup.
Another way to prevent a puppy from becoming too aggressive with young children is teaching the child to give the puppy time to calm down before engaging with it. During this period, they can gently stroke the puppy’s head or neck to get closer without frightening it and reduce the likelihood of them grabbing onto the pup.
It’s also beneficial to give the puppy a space they can retreat to when they need to calm down and unwind. This could include a crate, pen, or bed.
Training the Puppy
Whether you’re raising a puppy as an indoor family pet or for service work, children and puppies must be taught how to interact safely. Children’s scent, funny voices, unpredictable movements, and physical characteristics can frighten young pups.
Puppies can be highly impressionable and easily confused in their early days. Showing patience during these times will help everyone feel at ease and teach them how to interact with one another more effectively.
Start your training in a calm, quiet environment with few distractions and gradually progress to more exciting or hectic scenarios. As your pup responds correctly, praise and treats can be used as rewards for good behavior.
Teaching your puppy how to sit or stay is an invaluable way to teach them appropriate socialization with people and other dogs. This is one of the first skills you can instill in them, as this skill will serve them throughout their lives.
Once your puppy has learned that sitting or staying is rewarded, practice it in other parts of the house, on walks with friends, etc. It’s essential to remain consistent and show them you expect them to always perform a specific behavior.
When your pup is showing the desired behavior, command it clearly and loudly. You may need to repeat the command several times before your puppy comprehends what you mean.
You can use a clicker or other device to reward your dog for performing certain behaviors you desire. A clicker is particularly beneficial when teaching your puppy how to come or stay.
A clicker is a small device that makes an audible click when your dog performs the behavior you’re teaching them. You may also use treats as rewards, but make sure the treats are only consumed during training sessions.
Your child needs to understand that the pup’s safety comes before their own. A distressed or injured puppy cannot make an ideal playmate for a child and could exhibit aggressive behaviors like biting, growling or other threats. Teach your children respect for a dog’s space and never touch or hug the animal unless it has given permission.
Introducing the Puppy to Children
Kids and dogs make for a wonderful combination that can foster an incredible bond, but it’s also essential to remember that the puppy needs time to adjust to children. This can be an overwhelming experience for everyone involved.
When introducing your puppy to children, the initial step should be creating a quiet and calm environment for them to interact with the pup. This will encourage them to approach on their own terms without feeling cornered or scared, allowing your child to safely engage with the puppy.
You can also encourage your child to pet the dog more calmly by offering their hand with fingers curled up for them to sniff. Be mindful that if they become overly excited, running around with the puppy may result in unwanted nips from it.
Play some entertaining games together to help your child and puppy get acquainted. For instance, they could challenge one another to speak in an inside voice that encourages the puppy to come closer for petting or treats.
By rewarding the puppy for acceptable behavior, it will teach your child an opportunity to get used to having a new dog in the family. After some time has passed between the child and puppy interacting, you can begin teaching them the basics of dog training through positive reinforcement so both parties learn how to play, sit, stand, and walk properly.
For younger children, it’s wise to keep them out of the puppy’s room and off the floor until they are ready to play with the canine. Doing this will prevent them from pestering the pup and damaging his private sanctuary while he sleeps or eats.
You can also ask them to play a game of fetch with you to practice being kind to the dog and not picking up his ears or tail. Doing this will make the puppy more relaxed in the future, and you’ll both have an excellent time playing together!
Supervision
When kids and puppies live together, proper supervision is key for their safety. Not only will this help your puppy and child become comfortable with each other, but it’s also essential for everyone else in the home to remain secure.
Supervision can take many forms, from formal to informal. Usually, supervision is provided by a supervisor who has extensive experience dealing with people in this setting and who can facilitate their learning and development.
Supervisory relationships typically involve working together with a supervisee to identify and address any problems that may arise in their work. Depending on the circumstance, this could include dealing with performance problems or other obstacles hindering their productivity.
Supervisors have the responsibility of ensuring their staff abide by personnel policies and regulations. This includes verifying they fulfill all essential job requirements as well as monitoring their health and well-being.
Additionally, managers can be accountable for reviewing their employees’ objectives and performance as part of the appraisal process. This is usually done annually but may occur more frequently if needed.
Meetings or individual appointments between supervisor and supervisee to discuss their work can be effective for creating a regular supervision schedule, as they guarantee adequate guidance and aid in career advancement.
Another way of encouraging active supervision is to teach children when it’s time for them and their pet to take a break from playing. For instance, if the pup begins to wiggle or get restless after being touched by your child or other family members, give them some space and let them know you’ll be returning soon so they can resume playing.
Dogs can be highly sensitive to touch, especially if they’re unfamiliar or new to the family. This could lead to unwanted behaviors like nipping or jumping up when being touched. Therefore, teaching children appropriate manners when interacting with your puppy is recommended as not only will this benefit their health but may also develop undesirable habits.
