Things to Know Before Getting a Puppy for Your Children

Watching your children grow up with a puppy can be a wonderful and rewarding experience and it teaches them about responsibility for another living being. But when your puppy cries at 3 AM, and no one wants to take him out in the rain for a pee break, it can turn stressful very quickly.

So you want to get a puppy for your children; here’s what you need to know:

Discuss the Decision as a Family

The first step before getting a puppy is that you need to discuss it as a family. Maybe make a list of pros and cons, taking the following into consideration :

• Time – Do we have enough time in our daily schedule to dedicate to our puppy.
• Finances – The first year of your puppy’s life is especially expensive. They need several sets of vaccines, toys, food, treats, training, spay or neuter costs all need to be planned for as well as any unforeseen health issues that require a visit to your veterinarian.
• Are all family members on board with this decision? It needs to be a unanimous “YES” to getting a puppy. If even one family member, child or adult is uncomfortable with this decision, it is not a good time to get a puppy.

Decide Where to Purchase Your Puppy

The next step is that you need to decide whether to purchase a puppy from a registered, reputable breeder or go to a shelter or rescue group. If you are going to purchase a pure breed puppy, do extensive research on the breed. Certain breeds are working or herding dogs, and without a job to do, they can become bored very quickly. Also, not all small breed dogs want to be lap dogs.

Going to a shelter or rescue group is admirable; however, if you do not know the background of your puppy, I do not recommend choosing this route if you have young children in your home.

Puppy Proof your Home

Now you need to puppy proof your home. You want to make sure that your children’s play area is kept separate from your puppy. Puppies explore everything with their mouths, and swallowing a piece of lego can happen quickly. You can put up gates in areas that you don’t want your puppy to have access to.

Speaking of exploring everything with their mouths, puppies are teething and need to chew, chew, chew. Provide her with lots of acceptable chewing options, such as puppy toys (ask at the pet store) and something cold to soothe those sore gums. You can take a tea towel, soak it in water or broth, tie a knot and freeze it for several hours. Your puppy will enjoy gnawing on it (always with supervision).

You may also need to change your children’s snack time routine. Make sure they do not run around the house with a box of raisins, for example. Foods, such as raisins and chocolate, are toxic to dogs, and depending on how much they consume, it can have a deadly outcome. Puppies are like little vacuum cleaners and they will eat anything that your child drops on the floor.

Make sure your puppy has a comfortable pet bed in a quiet area – you can use a crate. When your puppy goes to her sleeping spot, make sure your children respect her space and do not let them interrupt her sleep. We would not like it either if we are in a deep sleep and someone nudges us.

Do not let your children pull your puppy’s ears or tail. Do not let them try to “ride” your puppy or dress her up in costumes. This may seem like common sense, but I have seen too many photos and videos on the internet that seem funny at first glance — but the puppies almost always show signs of stress.

That is why it is important for your children to learn to “speak” your puppy’s language. Some of the more subtle signs that a puppy is uncomfortable or scared and needs space are:  face turned away; lip licking; wide open mouth yawn; sneezing; a quick body shake.  As soon as your puppy walks away from your children, that should be enough for them to know that she needs some space and quiet time.

In general, puppies as well as your children, do best with a daily routine. Give her time to play, go for walks, explore, socialize, chew, and rest.

For resource information on families with children and puppies, I can highly recommend these two websites: www.familypaws.com and www.doggonesafe.com

In terms of puppy training, whether you choose a group class or private in home training, make sure you are working with a certified positive reinforcement trainer. This will ensure a relationship with your puppy based on mutual trust and respect.

(Side note: I do not like to use the word “it” when referring to our canine friends. That is why I used either “he” or “she”.)

About the Author

Silke Le Messurier, CTB.ccs, IPDTA-CDT, is a certified positive dog trainer and behaviour consultant who has been serving the Quinte West community for the past 5 1/2 years. She is a proud member of the International Positive Dog Trainer Association (IPDTA). She offers a private in home puppy training program as well as behaviour modification.  She is happy to answer all your questions and you can reach her through her website at www.petmeplease.ca