How To Raise A Perfect Puppy For Children
It's not easy to raise a perfect puppy. But you can get there with time and patience. However, your efforts can be made more challenging with kids. So, here are some tips to get started.
Introduce and Socialize the Puppy
Puppies learn better around people of all ages because they witness different types of behavior. Yet it's vital to introduce a puppy positively to ensure it behaves well around children. Gently let your puppy play with the kids, and remove it if play becomes too boisterous. Try to ensure that the dog only receives positive interaction with children, so it learns to associate this with when around them. Some breeds, such as Ausmate Australian Cobberdogs, are better with children. However, you must also ensure your kids are positive towards the dog.
Comfort the Dog Around the Kids
Dogs and puppies love to play with children, and your kids will also love to play with the kids. And as they grow together, they will learn to play well. However, even if your kids are well-behaved, they can become unruly and hyperactive. And they can do things like pull tails and squeeze necks when they get too excited. Obviously, this behavior can become distressing for a puppy. But you can help the dog by being ready with treats and praise for good behavior. You can also acclimatize the dog by praising it as you gently pull its tail or hold its paws.
Raise a Perfect Puppy with Exposure
Being in a house with children can be very distracting for a puppy. And excessive noise can also become distressing. However, you can help the puppy cope with unfamiliar sounds by getting it used to them. Some of the most common are from children's toys and games:
Get the puppy used to toys with high-pitched sounds.
Expose your animal to fast-moving things like bikes.
Teach the puppy to differentiate between its own toys and the kids.
Dog ears are much more sensitive to sounds than human ears. So the strange noises can become uncomfortable Yet more exposure to sounds will help the dog get used to them. But you must also train your puppy not to chase things or risk injury to the puppy and your children.
Get the Puppy Used to Being in a Crate
Some people think placing a puppy in a crate is cruel. However, it is necessary for certain circumstances. For instance, you might have friends over, and leaving a puppy outside in the cold isn't right. Or your puppy might have a tendency to chew electrical wires when you are in bed. So a crate can help prevent and protect your puppy. But you must begin crate training as early as possible. Also, putting your dog in a crate at an older age is more distressing for the animal. It will likely result in whining, destructive behavior, and increased stress.
Teach the Kids to Play Properly
Raising a puppy doesn't only involve teaching your dog how to behave. It's also helpful to teach your children to know how to act around the puppy. You can help by touching your kid to gently pet the puppy without pulling its features or offering attention. However, you should also set boundaries. For example, the dog's crate should be for the dog only, and the puppy might become territorial about this. For your children's safety, you also must teach them to leave the puppy alone when it's sleeping and to never approach the dog while it's eating.
Summary
You can raise a perfect puppy if you have the patience. Some helpful tips include socializing the dog, exposing it to toys, games, and sounds, and ensuring your kids know how to treat the dog.