Raising Young Children and Pets

Hi A.,

I worked as a dog trainer for several years before my son was born, so I have a good idea of what a puppy and kids are like together. I recommend you let your kids help by giving treats to the puppy, playing games like hide and go seek where the kids give the puppy a treat for finding them (also helps to build a strong recall in the dog) and attending training classes with your children. Find a trainer who will allow you to bring your kids and allow them to participate. Continue to give your older dog lots of attention too. Finally, I recommend investing in a leash called The Buddy System with a small dog extender. It is a hands-free leash that attaches around your waist. This will help you keep your eyes on the puppy while your cooking or playing with the kids so you can avoid puppy potty accidents and build a strong bond with the new puppy. A leash system like this can also help your dog walk better on leash because if you're wearing it all around the house the dog has to look up to you to see where you're going. Good luck!

Let the boys help. They are not too young to parent the puppy and can learn from it.

I only have one child, but two dogs, a cat, a rabbit, and three birds. We had all of our animials before our son came along. We don't have our dogs crated, as it doesn't work for us, but it does work for many people.

Our son is our priority. The animials know it, especially the dogs. Given dogs are pack animals, they will see you all as part of their pack. Treat them as such and to respect the alpha dog and the order of your pack.

For your children, have them help you. My son at almost 3 years old helps me to feed and care for them all. When handling the pets, we just have to always be reminding him to use gentle hands, and we model the behavior.

Hi A.,

I have 3 kids (21, 14 and 8) raising 2 grandchildren (3 and 4 years) a Doberman/Lab and a Great Dane. We got the Dane as a 6 week old puppy. I have two words for you: crate training.
Do research on crate training and use it and it will make your life much easier. It will help avoid lots of problems like potty on the floor, kids stepping on puppy, etc. You take him out for potty and for specific periods of playtime. It becomes his "safe place" and will help you stay sane. Have funnd good luck!

L.

Hi A.. I have 2 queensland heelers that are going to be 4 in October and my son is 11 months old. The puppy dogs were and still are a major members of our family. They were our 'kids' per say until our son came along. The dogs like their 'time' away from our son, and we respect that. They also are little stinkers w/him. They'll love on him when they want to; he's walker and loves his puppy dogs. So everyday, I tell him I'm going to feed your puppy dogs and he walks w/me to get their dog bowls and then waits for me to put the food down for them and he get's excited. When they are done, I ask our son, you're puppies done eating, want tohelp me and sure enough he know's there the bowls are and drags them to the hallway for me to pick up. I really matters on how you address it and staying fair.

One thing I would do differently if I could do it all over again is not have so many pets.

When I had three kids under 5, and was completely overwhelmed with absolutely no time to myself and kids who wanted my time and a marriage that could have been better, I also took on a dog, cat, pig (and we didn't live on a farm, just a small beach house), birds, fish, guinea pigs, rabbits, and probably some others I'm forgetting. I thought I was doing it for the kids but I think it was just some perverse need I had to surround myself with chaos and give myself more work.

The kids barely paid any attention to all these pets, and one way or another they all eventually went, causing much heartache.

So I say "NO!" to too many pets, unless you actually do live on a farm, and have hired farmhands to work it all.

HOWEVER, if it's just 2 dogs, 2 smallish dogs might be better than one, because dogs need so much attention, and it might be better for them to have company.

Hi A.. You will be fine..I have a 14 month old boy, 2 dogs and 2 kitten/almost cats. Yes it is more work but more fun too. My son LOVES the animals and the animals are really good with him as well. There is no way the pets will take away from time with your boys unless you allow them too. are they outside pets as well? All my animals go outside which is great. i could not imagine having them ALL inside all the time. THe additional puppy once it gets the hang of things will be great because the pups will play together and keep eachother company. hang in there, you made the best choice in my opinion, having pets is priceless and i could not begin to imagine my life without them. I also love that my son is som comfortable with animals. good luck!