Whether you have a puppy or a full-grown dog, you want your furry friend to get along with your kids! It can be daunting if your older dog isn’t the best around kids, but you can teach an old dog new tricks! A puppy can be easier to train because they don’t have to unlearn bad habits. Either way, we’ve got you covered!
Socialize your puppy
Between 8 and 16 weeks, your puppy is learning how to be comfortable around people and other animals. If you introduce them to children of various ages in different situations, you can help them think of children positively.
Teach basic commands
This can work for older dogs or puppies. If they learn to obey and listen to you, you can have better control of a situation. The basic commands can help you teach them how to behave around kids. If you are overwhelmed by the task of training them, our training programs can help!
Act like a kid
Kids are loud, rowdy, and behave differently than adults. Train them to sit and stay while you run around and scream or throw a ball around. This can get them used to hearing and see child-like behavior without feeling overwhelmed. If you want to step it up, you could take them to a park to observe children playing.
Give kids rules too
Kids need to know how to treat a dog just as much as a dog needs to know how to handle a child. Teach them to pet and play gently and not rough house with the dog. Ensure they know that the crate is the dog’s safe space and should leave it alone. The most important rule is to not force love on the dog. Children mean well, but if a dog feels smothered or uncomfortable, it could lash out.
No matter how old your pup is, it is essential to give them the tools to have a happy, stress-free life in your home. If you need help training or have questions about your dog, give us a call!
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