Children and puppies are often portrayed as immediate best friends. But sadly, this is often only true in fairy tales and TV shows. The reality can be a bit more challenging, so we’re here to help you out by showing you how to introduce a new puppy to the family so that everyone gets along. To be completely honest, it can be harder than it sounds. It’s important to introduce children to puppies slowly. To young pups (or even human adults), children can be noisy and scary. Don’t worry though, we’ll tell you all about it in our guide on introducing a puppy to children.
But first, a question: Have you downloaded the Zigzag App? If not, why don’t you get a free trial today? You can trust us when we say you won’t regret it. You’ll receive a full training programme tailored to your puppy’s breed type and age, and even access to a team of puppy coaches who are available 24/7. They’ll help with all your burning questions and worries…they’ll act just like a family therapist at this point.
When to introduce your children to a new puppy?
Children and puppies can be the best of friends, but it can take time and patience to get to that stage. It’s very important to go slowly and gently when introducing a puppy to children. Ideally, while your puppy is still with their breeder, they will have had some exposure to children to get them a little used to the potential commotion.
Before you bring your puppy home, it could be a good idea to take your children to meet them.. Presenting a puppy as a surprise for your children might be exciting and insta-worthy, but if your puppy is met with loud squeals and boisterous hands, it can be quite scary and overwhelming. It’s already a stressful time moving to their new home, so it’s smart to keep it as calm as possible at this early phase.
Top tips for introducing your puppy to children
- When introducing your puppy to children, choose a spot in the middle of a room where your puppy has space to retreat and get away if they feel they need to. Children can be scary to puppies. They make jerky movements, move quickly and can make loud noises, so it’s important your puppy knows they’re not trapped.
- Have your child sit on the floor. Make sure they know to be quiet and still. Allow the pup to approach them…only if they want to! You must let your puppy approach in their own time and not force them to,, as it might build unnecessary fear and stress.
- Let the puppy sniff and explore your child without them trying to touch or pet your puppy..
- Give your child a few treats that they can pop on the floor for your puppy to find.
- Once your puppy seems comfortable, you can ask your child to offer their hand out to your puppy for them to sniff.
- Make children aware that puppies are bitey, and this is normal for puppies. They aren’t intentionally trying to hurt them!
Ensuring your children are careful with a new puppy
Your puppy is likely to have had limited experience with children white they are with their breeder. Therefore, it’s really important that you teach your children how to behave around your puppy. Of course, we appreciate that young children are excited to meet a puppy, but puppies can get scared very easily. It’s best to talk to your children about calm slow movements and soft ‘indoor’ voices. Make sure your children understand that your puppy is not a toy to be grabbed, hugged tightly or picked up too! We understand it’s tempting, but this is key so your puppy builds a positive association with them based on safety and trust.
Puppies and babies – how to handle that interaction?
It goes without saying that dogs or puppies and small children should never be left unsupervised. Children and babies can make loud squealing noises which can trigger puppies and dogs’ prey drive. Whilst they may not mean to, puppies can get rather bitey when this happens. Those sharp teeth and claws, can easily damage skin and leave them with bad thoughts about dogs. Best to avoid all that by simply being careful!
For older crawling babies and toddlers, puppies are the source of much delight and fun. However, supervision is still always required. Babies and toddlers like to grab at things, and can unintentionally hurt and scare your puppy. Puppies and small children can be great together, but do require your supervision at all times.
Overall, it’s also important that you know how to calm your puppy down and how to stop puppy jumping up. This will be particularly crucial when children and puppies come together.
Preparing your home for your puppy and children
The best way to prepare your home for children and puppies is to give everyone their own space. Your puppy will need to spend a lot of time sleeping, and it’s vital for them to remain undisturbed when they doze off for a nap. Yep, this means you’ll have to talk to your children about leaving them alone when this happens!
When you aren’t able to supervise, you can create areas of your home using baby gates, so puppy and kids can remain separated. It’s a really good idea to crate train your puppy and/or use a playpen so they have their own safe space to relax undisturbed, and to give your children a break from any puppy biting
The Zigzag app gives you a full behaviour and training walkthrough for your puppy’s first year and beyond. You’ll be surprised by how much you actually wanted to know puppy training. We’ll guide you through all the obedience and behaviour training you need to create a happy, sociable and friendly adult dog. It’s actually preferable to get the whole family involved in your puppy’s training, so we’ve kept this in mind when designing the programme.
FAQs
Is it safe to have a puppy with a toddler?
Yes, provided you are able to supervise and manage the situation closely. Keeping spaces in your home separate for your puppy and keeping all interactions safe will help to keep everyone safe and happy. Remember that you’re the adult here!
How do you raise a puppy that will be good with kids?
Ensure that your puppy only has positive experiences with children, and that they never see each other as a threat. Puppies don’t like it when children grab or hug like fluffy toys, and can actually make puppies fearful of them. When we’re actually trying to make them become friends, we want to avoid this at all costs! This is why it’s important to keep all interactions between children and puppies positive, fun and respectful. Your puppy and children will eventually grow to see each other as a good thing.
What should children not do with dogs?
Children need to respect that puppies and dogs are living beings who have thoughts and feelings just like we do. Your puppy will only know how to behave like a puppy (can’t blame them), so it’s important that your children are taught how to behave around them. Handling your puppy roughly, hugging them tightly, or pulling their fur and tail is, as you can imagine, pretty out of the question. Puppies don’t like being teased or stared at intensely either as it can feel really threatening as well.
