A New Dog For the Kids
Getting a new dog or puppy for your kids? Here are ten useful tips to make things work out between your dog and your kids!
In addition to this list, getting a good book on dogs and kids is a great idea. Involve your kids in the training process, in a positive way. Expect some bumps and turns along the way, but if you ever don’t feel safe, please hire a professional to integrate your dogs and kids.
- All training for the dog should be based on positive reinforcement, rather than punishment. Expect your dog training to spill over to how your kids interact with you or other kids, and how you parent. Click here to find a positive dog trainer.
- If you have a puppy, enroll in puppy class right away. Puppies can often start puppy class around 8-10 weeks old. Clicker training works well on all dogs, but especially puppies!
- Take a dog training class at a facility that allows kids. Or if your kids are too young and might distract you or the dog, get a sitter and teach the kids at home.
- Involve your kids in the training. It’s good for the kids and teaches the dog that kids aren’t littermates.
- Set boundaries for the dog, but not in a rough way. Have the dog sit before meals, wait at doors & at the top of the stairs, etc.
- Set boundaries for the kids, too. Teach your kids how to pet (and how not to pet) the dog.
- Teach the dog to take treats gently, and teach children how to help that continue.
- Desensitize the dog to things the kids might accidentally do, while also teaching the kids to not do those things. Your children’s friends may not know the rules, so teach them too! Here are some things that dogs don’t usually like kids to do to them.
- Hugs
- Kisses
- Tail pulls
- Taking food & toys away
- Screaming, running, etc.
- Your dog may have some other things they are afraid of, too.
- Unless it’s a calm, older dog, don’t leave dogs alone with children under 7. Even then, the child may create a bad situation by pulling the tail, hugging the dog.
- Have appropriate chewies for the dog and teach him/her to leave the kids toys alone. You can put a scent on the dog’s toys to make it clearer (vanilla works).
- Bonus Idea: Teach the dog “Excuse me” which means move out of the way. Simply say, “Excuse me” and shuffle your feet through the dog. Have the adults teach the dog first, then transfer to the children.
