How To Train A Puppy To Interact With Your Family
If you have children, it is important that your puppy learns to interact with them safely and appropriately. Left to their own devices, both may treat the other as a toy, behaving in a way that encourages the other to misbehave and learn bad habits.
Because both children and puppies are young and inexperienced, it is necessary for an adult to supervise interactions at all times. This may seem unnecessary, but it is better to put in the time and effort early to ensure that good habits are created rather than to try to sort out problems later.
First impressions are important, so it is a good idea to get the children to sit down when a new puppy is brought in for the first time. They can be given small treats to offer on the flat of their hand as the puppy comes to investigate them.
Once the puppy is used to the children, teach both how to play together successfully with toys. Show the children how to handle the puppy gently once he is used to being touched all over by adults.
Other Dogs In The Family
If you have another dog in the family, or are trying to raise two puppies together, it is really important that the puppy plays more with humans than he does with the other dog or puppy. This is because the familiar game of rough and tumble biting with other dogs is more fun than learning to play with humans. Although it is nice to see your puppy playing with other dogs, if this is allowed in excess, he will form a strong bond with other dogs and less of a bond with you. As a result, he will be less focused on you and much more difficult to train. This may also result in him growing into an adult dog who cannot be recalled from games with other dogs in the park.
Q & A
‘How do I stop the children feeding the puppy at the table?’
Use stair gates or a playpen to confine the puppy while children eat so that the puppy does not learn to pester or beg for food.
‘What can I do to ensure that things don’t get out of hand in my absence?’
When you cannot be there to supervise, place the puppy in his playpen so that he can rest and learn to amuse himself rather than learning to chase or bite the children in an unsupervised situation.
‘How should my children offer treats to the puppy?’
They should hold their hands flat, keeping their fingers and thumb close together so that the puppy can take the treat without risk of biting their hands accidentally. It is best to teach the children how to do this before the puppy arrives.
‘I don’t have a child, but want my puppy to get used to children. What should I do?’
It is important that your puppy learns to interact with different ages of children as soon as possible. Learn how to socialize him to ensure that he grows up to be well adjusted and able to enjoy and tolerate their company when he is older.
Tips For Success
In order that your puppy grows up to be human-focused and nicer to own, ensure that he plays with people roughly three times longer than he plays with other dogs. So, for example, if he plays for five minutes with other dogs, you need to play with him for up to
15 minutes (in short sessions).
Restrict his access to the other dogs/puppies in your household unless you are there to supervise and encourage them to play with you rather than each other. Use a stair gate or playpen to ensure that this happens.
By playing a lot with him and by keeping his attention on you, he will be easier to train and a nicer dog to own.
If you own more than one dog, take your puppy out and about without your adult dog so that he becomes independent and confident alone.
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