How to Sucessfully Raise Puppies and Kids Together

Raising a puppy and littles together can be a great experience -but it can also be a bit tricky at times. Balancing the needs of a playful puppy and an energetic child takes some planning and patience. Whether you’re bringing a new puppy into your home or helping your kids and puppy get along, these tips can make your life a lot easier.

Make Sure You’re Sure

Before bringing a puppy into your home, it’s crucial to consider the decision carefully. Discuss the idea with all family members, especially older ones, so that everyone is on board. Consider your current lifestyle and whether it can accommodate a new pet. This planning helps avoid the stress of an impulsive decision. If everyone agrees and the timing is right, it’s time to start prepping your home!

Research Which Dog Breed Will Be Best for Your Family

Choosing the right breed for your family is a critical step in ensuring harmony between your puppy and child. Research breeds known for being good with kids, such as Labrador Retrievers, Bulldogs, Golden Retrievers, Beagles, Pugs, and Irish Setters, as recommended by the American Kennel Club.

Don’t choose a dog based solely on its appearance; instead, prioritize temperament and suitability for family life. Opt for a reputable breeder who focuses on breeding for temperament, ensuring the dog is well-suited for a family environment.

Plan Your Day

Welcoming a puppy is like bringing home another little one. Make sure to plan out who’s going to take care of the puppy, who’s looking after the kids, and where everyone will be throughout the day. If you have older kids, they can help with some responsibilities, but the main job of caring for the puppy falls on the adults.

Setting a routine for feeding, walks, and playtime will help balance the needs of both the puppy and your children, making the transition smoother for everyone.

ALways Be Gentle

Before the puppy comes home, teach your kids how to interact gently with their new furry friend. They need to know how to handle the puppy with care and what behaviors to avoid.

You can use fun children’s books like “Tails Are Not for Pulling,” “Be Gentle With the Dog, Dear!,” “May I Pet Your Dog?,” and “Don’t Lick the Dog: Making Friends with Dogs” to help get the message across. These stories make learning fun and help your kids understand the importance of being kind and gentle with their new puppy.

Dog Body Language 101

Before your new puppy arrives, it’s important to teach your kids how to recognize dog body language. Understanding signs that a dog is scared, stressed, or might bite can help your child know when to back off and get an adult. Dr. Sophia Yin’s website offers free, downloadable dog body language posters with photos, which are perfect for teaching kids.

Practice Makes Perfect

Once your kids understand how to treat a dog, practice these concepts using a stuffed animal. This fun exercise helps gauge if your children are ready for a real puppy. Have them show you the right way to pet the stuffed dog and ask them what they would do if the puppy showed signs of fear, like freezing or baring its teeth. This role-playing activity reinforces good behavior and prepares your kids for positive interactions with the new puppy.

Have a Playdate with an Older Dog

Before the excitement of a new puppy, invite a friend with an older, kid-friendly dog over for a playdate. Older dogs are generally calmer and well-behaved, providing a good test for your child’s readiness. If your child can’t handle being around a calm, adult dog, it might be a sign they’re not quite ready for a puppy yet. In that case, adopting an older dog who already knows the ropes could be a better match for your family.

Give the Puppy Time to Adjust

Bringing a new puppy home is a big deal, not just for your family but for the puppy too. Make sure to give your new furry friend some quiet time to settle in before meeting the kids. This helps the puppy feel safe and reduces stress. Remind your children about the right ways to pet and interact with the puppy to make sure everyone starts off on the right paw. A little patience goes a long way in making the new puppy feel at home.

Keep Your Cool

Staying calm is one of the most important things you can do when introducing a puppy to your home. If you’re stressed or anxious, both the puppy and your children will sense it and may become uneasy themselves. Your worry can inadvertently create a tense situation.

So, take a deep breath, relax, and approach the situation with a calm demeanor. This will help everyone, including the puppy, feel more at ease and confident.

Make Kids a Positive Experience

Right from the start, you want your puppy to associate your kids with positive experiences. Depending on how energetic, loud, or excited your child is, this might take some effort. If your puppy seems unsure or nervous, help them by pairing the sight and sounds of your child with a treat.

Give the reward yourself while your child stays at a safe distance. This positive reinforcement can make a big difference. Consider working with a trainer so that your puppy learns to see your children as friends and not as something to be wary of.

Create a Safe Space for the Puppy

Every dog, no matter how friendly, needs a place to retreat and relax. Set up a safe space for your puppy, like a covered crate in a quiet area of your home. This gives them a break from the hustle and bustle.

Teach your children that when the puppy heads to their safe spot, it’s time to leave them alone until they come back. Explain that this is the puppy’s nap time – maybe your child can nap at the same time? This helps both the puppy and your child understand the importance of rest and personal space.

Keep Babies Off the Floor with the Puppy

It’s important to avoid putting babies on the floor with a puppy. Puppies are playful and energetic, which can lead to accidental bumps or pushes. Babies might also try to use the puppy for balance, pulling on ears, fur, or tails. To prevent accidents, it’s best to have separate play times for your baby and your puppy. This keeps both safe and allows you to manage their interactions better, ensuring a positive experience for everyone.

Always Supervise

Accidents can happen quickly, so never leave your young children and puppy unattended. Without supervision, either your child or the puppy could get hurt. If you’re busy with tasks like cooking dinner or anything that requires your full attention, keep them separated.

This is an excellent time to use crate or pen training for the puppy, ensuring both are safe while you’re occupied. Supervision is key to preventing mishaps and ensuring a positive environment for both your kids and your puppy.

Choose Safe Play Activities

Selecting the right ways for your child to play with the puppy depends on the child’s age and the puppy’s temperament. It’s important to monitor their interactions to ensure safety for both. For example, while tug-of-war can be fun for adults and dogs, it can be risky for young children, as the puppy might accidentally bite or let go suddenly, causing your child to fall.

A safer option is fetch, especially if your puppy knows how to drop the toy for another throw. This keeps hands and fingers away from the puppy’s mouth, promoting safer playtime.

Don’t Hesitate to Give Your Puppy a Time-Out

If your puppy becomes too excited and starts overwhelming your child, it’s perfectly fine to give them a time-out. Calmly pick up or lead your puppy away from your child and place them in another room or their crate. Providing a chew or puzzle toy can help them burn off excess energy during this break.

Once they’ve calmed down, you can reintroduce them to your child. Time-outs can help manage your puppy’s behavior and teach them how to interact gently with your children.

Time-Outs for Kids are Important Too

If your child becomes too excited, ignores your instructions, or starts pulling on the dog, it’s time for a break. Explain to your child why they need a time-out from the puppy and remind them of the appropriate ways to interact. Revisiting some of the dog books and posters about proper interaction can reinforce these lessons.

Keep Puppies and Babies Separate at Bedtime

While it might be tempting to let your puppy and young child sleep together, it’s safer to keep them apart. Puppies can startle awake and might bite, while toddlers may kick or thrash in their sleep, potentially injuring or scaring the puppy. It’s best to wait until both your child and puppy are older before considering sleepovers.

Involve Your Child in Dog Training

Including your child in the puppy’s training process can be incredibly beneficial. Enrolling in a family-oriented training class that uses positive reinforcement will teach both your puppy and your child how to communicate effectively with each other.

Encourage Your Child to Ask for Help

It’s vital to teach your child that it’s always okay to ask for help if something seems off with the puppy. Let them know they won’t get in trouble for coming to you with concerns. Emphasize that keeping both the puppy and the family safe is the top priority.

Keep Kids’ and Puppies’ Toys Separate

To avoid mix-ups and potential issues, make sure your child’s toys and the puppy’s toys are kept separate. Puppies can get possessive of their toys, and your child might not know how to handle that just yet. Plus, you don’t want the puppy chewing on your baby’s teething ring—yuck! Keeping their toys separate helps prevent any misunderstandings and keeps things clean and safe for both your child and your puppy.

Keep a Leash Handy

When your puppy is playing with your kids, attaching a short leash to their harness can be really helpful. It lets you step in quickly if things get too wild, by simply stepping on the leash or grabbing it if needed. This easy trick gives you extra control and peace of mind during playtime, ensuring that everyone stays safe and happy.

Focus on Essential Commands First

Before teaching your puppy fun tricks, focus on essential commands like “Leave It,” “Off,” “Drop It,” “Sit,” and “Come.” These commands are super useful, especially with kids around. Puppies are quick learners, so start training these basics as soon as they come home. Early training helps your puppy understand how to behave properly, making interactions smoother and more enjoyable for everyone.

Set Clear Rules (and Stick to Them!)

Decide on the rules for your puppy and make sure everyone in the family, especially the kids, knows them. Will the dog be allowed on the couch? Are there specific feeding times? Creating a list of rules and putting it on the fridge with pictures and words is a great way to remind everyone.

Consistency is key, so whatever rules you set, make sure they are followed by everyone. This helps avoid confusion and keeps both the puppy and your kids safe and well-behaved.

Maintain a Consistent Routine

Dogs and kids thrive on routine. Keeping a consistent daily schedule helps reduce stress for both. Feed your dog at the same times each day to prevent crankiness, which can lead to unwanted behaviors like grabbing at a child’s hand. Regular exercise and playtimes also keep your puppy happy and less likely to be overly excited around the kids.

Exercise Before Playtime

Both children and puppies need to burn off energy before interacting with each other. Make sure they get plenty of exercise separately so that when they do come together, they’re both calmer and more manageable. A well-exercised puppy is less likely to be overly energetic or jumpy around your kids, making playtime safer and more fun for everyone.

Give Cranky Kids a Break

Kids have their off days too, and sometimes they just don’t want to play with the puppy. That’s perfectly okay. If you notice your child getting grumpy or frustrated, it’s a good idea to separate them from the puppy for a bit. Just like your puppy has a cozy spot to retreat to, make sure your child has a comfy place to relax and unwind.

Bonus Tip: Ask for Help Early On

If you notice any worrisome behaviors from your puppy or child, don’t wait and hope they’ll just grow out of it. It’s better to address these issues early on. Find a reputable dog trainer who uses positive reinforcement and has experience with family dog training.

Establishing this connection early means you have an expert to turn to if any problems arise. Early training can nip bad behaviors in the bud, ensuring a smoother experience as your puppy and child grow up together.