Kids and puppies are always portrayed as immediate best buddies. But sadly, this is often only true in fairy tales and movies. The reality can be a bit more challenging. We’re here to help you out by showing you how to introduce puppy to kids so that everyone gets off on the right paw. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Being completely honest, it can be harder than it sounds. It’s important to introduce kids to puppies slowly. To young pups (or even human adults), children can be noisy and scary.\u00a0 Don\u2019t worry though, we’ll tell you all about it in our guide on how to introduce dogs to kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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But first, a question: Have you downloaded the Zigzag App<\/a>? If not, why don\u2019t you get a free trial today? You can trust us when we say you won\u2019t regret it. You\u2019ll receive a full training program tailored to your puppy\u2019s breed type and age, and even access to a team of puppy coaches <\/a>who are available 24\/7. They\u2019ll help with all your burning questions and worries\u2026they\u2019ll act just like a family therapist at this point.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to introduce a new puppy to the family is an important question. It\u2019s best to go slowly and gently when introducing a dog to kids. Ideally, while your puppy is still with their breeder, they will have had some exposure to kids to get them a little used to the potential commotion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you bring your puppy home, it could be a good idea to take your kids 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\u2019s already a stressful time moving to their new home, so it\u2019s smart to keep it as calm as possible at this early phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your puppy is likely to have had limited exposure to kids while they are with their breeder. It\u2019s really important that you teach your kids how to behave around your puppy. We appreciate that young kids are excited to meet a puppy, but puppies can get scared very easily. It\u2019s best to talk to your children about calm slow movements and soft \u2018indoor\u2019 voices. Make sure your kids understand that a pup is not a toy to be grabbed, hugged tightly or picked up! We understand it\u2019s tempting, but this is key so your puppy builds a positive association with them based on safety and trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It goes without saying that dogs or puppies and small children should never be left unsupervised. Kids and babies can make loud squealing noises which can trigger puppies and dogs\u2019 prey drive. You might wonder if dogs know to be gentle with babies but the truth is you shouldn\u2019t assume that they do. You should always be careful with dogs around newborns. Whilst they may not mean to, puppies can get rather bitey <\/a>when this happens. Those sharp teeth<\/a> and claws<\/a> can easily damage skin and leave them with bad thoughts about dogs. Best to avoid all that by simply being careful!<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, it’s also important that you know how to calm your puppy down <\/a>and how to stop puppy jumping up<\/a>. This will be particularly crucial when children and puppies come together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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<\/a>, and it\u2019s vital for them to remain undisturbed when they doze off for a nap. Yep, this means you\u2019ll have to talk to your children about leaving them alone when this happens!<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you aren\u2019t able to supervise, you can create areas of your home using baby gates, so puppy and kids can remain separated. It\u2019s a really good idea to crate train <\/a>your puppy and\/or use a playpen<\/a> so they have their own safe space to relax undisturbed, and to give your children a break from any puppy biting <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Zigzag app<\/a> gives you a full behaviour and training walkthrough for your puppy\u2019s first year and beyond. You\u2019ll be surprised by how much you actually wanted to know about puppy training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here at Zigzag we\u2019ll guide you through all the obedience <\/a>and behaviour training you need to create a happy, sociable and friendly adult dog. It\u2019s actually preferable to get the whole family involved in your puppy\u2019s training, so we\u2019ve kept this in mind when designing the Zigzag<\/a> program.If you have other furry family members read our article on how to introduce a puppy to a dog.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhen to introduce your kids to a new dog?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Top tips for introducing your dog to kids and babies<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Ensuring your kids are careful with a new puppy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Dogs and newborns – how to handle that interaction?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Preparing your home for your puppy and children<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Train your Dog to behave around children <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n