Getting a new puppy is an exciting time in your life. If you have kids, though, it is important to get them ready for life with a puppy. If you teach them the right way to treat a dog from the beginning, the entire experience will be rewarding. We hope our article will give you some how-to-do tips on preparing for your new addition.

Picking Up The Puppy

Many kids want to constantly pick a new puppy up, but they shouldn't never to do this alone. Puppies are wiggly little creatures and a child could easily drop and injure them.

A kid should always be seated with an Adult present. Put the puppy in the kid's lap and have your kid offer the puppy a chew toy. Because young pups are usually teething, they tend to chew on everything around them. This includes young arms and hands, but you can prevent this by offering an alternate.

Teaching your kid to be careful and gentle when holding the puppy will help both of them adjust beautifully.

Kids Helping To Care For Puppy

Kids should be given some responsibility for the family dog's care, although you should not expect it to be their sole responsibility. Kids  are not mature enough to be trusted with a pet's welfare, so you should always supervise to      make sure it is being done.

Young kids can be given simple tasks like feeding the puppy at certain times with your help. Older kids can be more involved in caring for the puppy, just make sure you check to be sure it is done.

Make a fun chart where your kids can put a sticker every time they complete their assigned task. This makes it amusing and you can easily see whether their job has been done for that day.

A Puppies Development

There are seven stages of  puppy development. But if you obtained your puppy from a breeder like us you probably skipped stages one through three.

Stage four lasts from 8 weeks to 3 months and is characterized as the "I'm Afraid Of Everything Stage". Unfortunately, this is when most families get their new pet, and is why your puppy may seem to be terrified of normal things. Do not use loud voices or rough discipline.  This is also a time of great learning, so begin teaching easy.  

Stage five is the Juvenile Stage and lasts from 3 to 4 months.  During this time the puppy is like a toddler.  He is testing the limits and asserting his independence, so be firm.  Keep playing with him, but avoid tug-of-war and wrestling games that can teach him that it is OK to fight with you.  

Stage 6, or the Brat Stage, is from 4 to 6 months.  Keep up the obedience training, but don't expect too much.

The last stage of puppyhood is stage 7, the Young Adult Stage from 6 to 18 months.  This is a great time in your dog's life.  He is energetic and fun to be around as he learns to be an adult dog.  Slowly increase your training and introduce him to other friendly dogs and people.  Now is a good time to begin advanced training like agility or herding.

Good vs Bad Games For Puppies

Everyone loves to play with a puppy, and it can be great fun. But be careful what you are teaching him through your games.  Kids and adults alike should never play tug-of-war or wrestle with a puppy.  This produces feelings of competition and aggression and can lead to dangerous situations later on.  

Playing 'chase' will also teach your puppy that it is OK to chase and jump on people.  Good games like fetch and teaching simple tricks are fun and stimulating to your puppy.  It also teaches him to obey you and your children and reinforces good behavior.  

A new puppy is a great addition to any family.  If you follow our easy tips, your puppy and  kids will get along ok.