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Getting a new puppy is an exciting time in a family's life. If you have young kids, though, it is important to get them ready for life with a puppy. If you teach them the right way to treat a dog from the beginning, the entire experience will be rewarding. This article will give you some how-to tips on preparing for your new addition.
Picking Up The Puppy
Many kids want to constantly pick a new puppy up, but they should be taught never to do this alone. Puppies are wiggly little things and a child could easily drop and injure them.
A child should always be seated with an adult present. Put the puppy in the child's lap and have your child offer the puppy a chew toy. Because young puppies are usually teething, they tend to chew on everything around them. This includes young arms and hands, but you can prevent this by offering an alternative.
Teaching your child to be careful and gentle when holding the puppy will help both of them adjust beautifully.
Kids Helping To Care For Puppy
Kids should be given some responsibility for the family dog's care, although you should not expect it to be their sole responsibility. Kids are not mature enough to be trusted with a pet's welfare, so you should always supervise to make sure it is being done.
Young kids can be given simple tasks like feeding the puppy at certain times with Mom or Dad's help. Older kids can be more involved in caring for the puppy, just make sure you check to be sure it is done.
Make a fun chart where your kids can put a sticker every time they complete their assigned task. This makes it amusing and you can easily see whether their job has been done for that day.
A Puppies Development
There are seven stages of puppy development. But if you obtained your puppy from a breeder or some other source you probably skipped stages one through three.
Stage four lasts from 8 weeks to 3 months and is characterized as the "I'm Afraid Of Everything Stage". Unfortunately, this is when most families get their new pet, and is why your puppy may seem to be terrified of normal things. Do not use loud voices or rough discipline. This is also a time of great learning, so begin teaching simple commands.
Stage five is the Juvenile Stage and lasts from 3 to 4 months. During this time the puppy is like a toddler. He is testing the limits and asserting his independence, so be firm. Keep playing with him, but avoid tug-of-war and wrestling games that can teach him that it is OK to fight with you.
Stage 6, or the Brat Stage, is from 4 to 6 months. This is the pre- adolescent stage and is the best time to neuter or spay your puppy. Keep up the obedience training, but don't expect too much.
The last stage of puppyhood is stage 7, the Young Adult Stage from 6 to 18 months. This is a great time in your dog's life. He is energetic and fun to be around as he learns to be an adult dog. Slowly increase your training and introduce him to other friendly dogs and people. Now is a good time to begin advanced training like agility or herding.
Good vs Bad Games For Puppies
Everyone loves to play with a puppy, and it can be great fun. But be careful what you are teaching him through your games. Kids and adults alike should never play tug-of-war or wrestle with a puppy. This produces feelings of competition and aggression and can lead to dangerous situations later on.
Playing 'chase' will also teach your puppy that it is OK to chase and jump on people. Good games like fetch and teaching simple tricks are fun and stimulating to your puppy. It also teaches him to obey you and your children and reinforces good behavior.
A new puppy is a great addition to any family. If you follow these few tips and general guidelines, your puppy and your kids will get along famously.
This article is part of a chapter in Edie MacKenzie's ebook "Your Doodle Puppy's First Year Made Easy." For more great tips on how to raise a healthy, fun loving, well-behaved dog, go to http://www.labradoodle-guide.com/LdoodPuppy.htm
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Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
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