Children With A New Puppy – Managing Expectations

With the influx of puppy ownership, I am of course seeing a lot of very young dogs. In my virtual puppy training, often the kids are involved in the call. It’s so important to manage the expectations of children with a new puppy. When I tell them not to lift the dog up or have it on their laps, I can see the disappointment in their faces. They often ask when it will be ok to cuddle them. Of course I don’t want to appear to be the bad guy in these circumstances but my advice is for a very good reason.

I am seeing dogs as young as ten weeks old with behavioural problems. The popularity of fluffy breeds means that the children think they have been given a living teddy bear to cuddle. I spoke to an owner recently with a four month old Springer that is aggressive towards the family. In the next breath she told me that the dog snarls when they try to move it off the daughter’s bed!

Training a dog the whole family can enjoy

The cute, cuddly stage in puppies only lasts a couple of weeks. Then, when your child goes to pick up their pup, they are more likely to get nipped, then bitten. I’m not here to curb enjoyment of the dog, quite the reverse. I want owners to have a dog they can enjoy for years to come. Kids should feel confident when taking the dog out. I want them to be able to invite friends home without worrying about how the dog will behave.

It’s a case of short-term pain, long-term gain. By making it clear where the dog belongs – on the floor or in their crate – you will have a dog that does not jump up. By having fun with training the puppy, you will quickly have a dog that is strongly bonded to your family.

My pre-puppy training covers all these points in more detail. If you’re looking to manage the expectations of your children with a new puppy, book in for virtual puppy training today.

Posted: September 15, 2020