Introducing a puppy to your kids

The two most wonderful things in life in our eyes: puppies & kids. Believe it or not, your child and your pet actually have quite a bit in common; they’re both inquisitive, impatient and are eager to try new and exciting things (and more often than not, it won’t be in the safest way)! With this in mind, ensure that their first meet is supervised so that the outcome can be as precious as you hope, and imagine it to be.

Be Mindful:

A child will often be incredibly excited when a little ball of fluff enters their life; they are likely to be eager to rush up to your new pet and start patting him, which could provoke a negative reaction from the puppy. Be mindful of this, and let the dog nose his way to the child, rather than letting your child approach the dog instantly. Your kids should also be prepped that dogs have zones of space which need to be respected. When a dog is within its intimate zone, the child shouldn’t approach them, unless the dog has explicitly indicated that it’s okay to do so. Explain that dogs get frightened too and they should remain calm and quiet, rather than shouting and using animated arm movements.

Know Limits:

If your new pet is showing signs of being uncomfortable with your child, don’t force it. The whole family should learn to know to stop play if signs of dominance are being shown from your pet. You should model the way you want your kids to approach their pet; once they learn this at home, they’ll learn the safest way to approach other animals outside of your family, too.

Encourage Patience:

Patience wouldn’t be the first thing that springs to mind when we’re talking puppies and kids, but it’s really important when introducing a new pet to the household. Between the age of eight and ten weeks, your puppy is still exploring the world. During this period, they can be a little over excited and may become defensive if your child echoes this sentiment, so remember that slow interactions help every member of the family to learn what feels fun to do, whilst knowing that they’re safe in one another’s company.

Include Everyone:

Your dog needs to be walked regularly to reduce the risk of fatigue and a possible pet insurance claim, which can also a fantastic excuse to exercise for the whole family. This will help the owner-dog relationship to naturally progress between your child and your pet, and in turn help both to mature together. Learning commands and looking after the puppy is another great way to grow the bond; have your child feed and clean up after your pet which will help teach responsibilities and create an inseparable tie between the family members.

If you need more tips on introducing a pet to the family, you can talk to us over on our Facebook, or Twitter pages. We’d love to see some pictures of your new pet, too!