Training Children

Topic: Christmas

Filed under Dogs

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In almost every letter mailed to Santa, children ask for a puppy for Christmas. Imagine the excitement Christmas morning when their dream finally comes true and there is an adorable little puppy waiting for them. Children and puppies seem to be a natural combination, but when it comes to looking after their new pet, it is up to the parents to teach them how to handle and care for their puppy. Having a puppy teaches children about responsibility along with loving and respecting animals but there is also work involved, which is another lesson children have to learn. Parents need to understand that they will perhaps have greater difficulty in training their kids how to handle the puppy than they will in training the puppy.

Puppies and children are typically very well suited to each other but without preparing and educating them on how to treat a puppy properly, the puppy or the child may be injured. For younger children, read them a book about how to handle and care for a puppy, show them how using a stuffed dog and later with their new puppy. It is also a good idea for kids to get a chance to play, interact and hold other people's puppies. If you have a friend or family member that has a puppy, ask if your child can come over and work with the puppy. For parents this helps reinforce what Mom and Dad are saying about correct behavior around the puppy.

It is important for all children to understand if they drop the puppy or hold it incorrectly, they could seriously injure the dog. Teach them to always be nice to their puppy and never allow kids to tease, hit or handle their new pet too roughly. Young children under the age of five are often rough with puppies and seem to have a natural curiosity and fascination for pulling the dogs ears and tail. Their new pet may not take kindly to this treatment so it is important to show young children how treat and be kind to the puppy. Explain how easy it is for them to accidentally hurt the dog by pulling or hitting and show them the proper way to hold and gently pet the dog's back and head. You should train your child never to startle or sneak up behind their puppy and not bother their pet when he is sick, resting, going to the bathroom or eating. Never leave a puppy and young children alone together unsupervised as this is often when injuries tend to occur for both kids and dogs.

Set up some rules for your children to follow about caring for the puppy. They need to remember to feed the puppy several times a day depending upon its age and always have fresh water available. Explain that just like babies, puppies cannot look after themselves by getting their own food or drinks so let them help in the daily care of the puppy when the kids are old enough. Make sure they understand that puppies require good nutrition to remain healthy and for proper growth. Always supervise young children when they are feeding the puppy or dog and help them when necessary. Your family needs to understand that puppy food meets their pet’s nutritional requirements and giving the dog table scraps, sweets, chocolate or other people food could make their puppy very sick.

Along with food and water, puppies require fresh air and exercise just like humans. Teach your children that to remain healthy, their puppy must play and move around to get exercise. If the puppy is not too strong for the child, walking the dog a couple times daily using a leash is great exercise for both. A fenced, secure yard is an excellent place for the child and puppy to run around and burn some energy off. Train children not to leave toys, shoes and other things lying around because a curious, rambunctious puppy is sure to play with and chew anything they find. Not only will the puppy probably chew on someone’s shoe or favorite doll, but also small toys that could get stuck in his throat.

For some reason, dogs and puppies always seem to love drinking out of the toilet bowl so always make sure to keep the door to the bathroom closed. Kids also have to learn to wash their hands before and after playing with the puppy, especially if they have touched another dog or pet. In addition kids need to learn that puppies can have germs and should not be allowed to lick the child, especially on the face.

When training children to care for their new puppy, it sometimes helps to make a schedule that lists the activities and requirements necessary to keep their pet happy and healthy. On the schedule, list the feeding times, playtime, walk time, bathroom breaks and other things so the children get into a routine. Helping care for the new puppy is partly their responsibility so do what you can to make it easier for your children and the puppy. Even though taking care of an animal requires work, with your guidance and help it will not be long before they become great pet owners. Be sure to compliment your children on a job well done when they follow through on a job that shows responsibility. Teach your children that taking care of a puppy requires work but, just like children that need their parents to look after them, a puppy is completely dependent upon his human family.

Finally, if the child seems unwilling or unable to properly care for the puppy, the parents do need to step in. This is for the safety of the puppy as well as to prevent the child from becoming resentful of his or her responsibility for the dog. Most children will go through a phase where they aren't as interested in their dog anymore, but that doesn't mean that the others in the family can't increase their level of attention to the pet so the dog remains happy, healthy and an important part of the family.

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