| Your concerns vs. my concerns |
| Your concern as a parent or grandparent is for the child's safety. That is also your responsibility. My concern and responsibility is for my puppies. You don't want your child bitten, scratched, or knocked down. I don't want my puppies stepped on, dropped, handled roughly, yelled at, used as a toy, ignored, thrown in the swimming pool, left unattended outside, or returned to me a month later traumatized. A small breed puppy is at a higher degree of risk of injury than a child. |
| A new puppy in your home |
| While certainly adaptable, a puppy from me has never seen a child. It is not accustomed to a young child's exuberant squeals. It has never been dropped or stepped on. It's not accustomed to a lot of hubbub. It's up to you, as the adult, to insure as smooth a transition as possible. Children, both yours and visiting friends, must be supervised and taught how to hold the puppy properly, to remain calm around the puppy so as not to startle it, and to understand that this is a baby. Very young children should only be allowed to hold a puppy when they're sitting on the floor. If this isn't feasible, please consider purchasing a puppy from a breeder with children. |
| The puppy is not a robot waiting for your command |
| I receive e-mail occasionally from people claiming they have or once had a "highly trained dog" and are looking for a puppy. While I certainly encourage every pet owner to take their dog or puppy through at least a basic obedience course, not all dogs enjoy being "highly trained". Depending on their owner, this can also mean "highly controlled", which is not the life I want for one of my puppies. You need to understand, and so do your children, that a dog has a mind of its own, and is entitled to likes and dislikes. Certain behaviors do need to be curbed for its own protection, and so it can live as a member of a household, but there are right and wrong ways for training a puppy. Consistency is the best method for any type of training. One must also consider the age of the puppy, and remain patient during the training process. Be aware of the breed's characturistics, and what is considered normal for that kind of dog. Some housebreak easier than others, some are more high-strung, some are naturally hesitant with strangers, etc. Do not buy a Manchester terrier, for example, and expect it to act like a shih tzu. Do not try to force a dog to act against its nature. If you don't want a dog that will bark every time someone comes to the door, don't buy a schnauzer. If you have children, buy a puppy with a suitable temperament and energy level for your particular children. |
| Remember, you're the adult |
| Do not buy a puppy "for the kids". Buy a family pet. Do not tell your child you'll get rid of the puppy if he/she doesn't take care of it. The puppy is ultimately YOUR responsibility. Your child or children should certainly be encouraged to help with the care of the puppy, but it should not be their responsibility. Children forget. They lose track of time. If they repeatedly get in trouble for neglecting the puppy, they will come to resent the puppy. They might even be mean to the puppy, which will cause the puppy to eventually defend itself, or hide from the children. If a puppy was friendly, trusting and outgoing when you first brought it home, and has become aggressive or shy, something happened to cause the attitude change. |
| Horror stories |
When I was a kid, I remember the little neighbor boy put newborn kittens in canning jars in their garage. By the time the parents discovered what he'd done, the kittens were all dead. This was an otherwise very nice little boy - who would have suspected he would do something like this? I know a dog groomer whose son, along with some neighborhood boys, put the family dachshund into a cooler filled with water and sat on the top until she drowned. They dragged her body across a field, intending to bury her in the woods. They were caught; the neighbor's children ran away. The groomer's son really didn't have much of an explaination. My point is that even the most angelic of children can harm an animal. How many times have I heard, "But my child would never do something like that!" Nobody wants to think their child is capable of killing an animal, but most children have never seen death. It is not a concept they're familar with and surely they don't understand that they could actually cause it. I'm talking about normal children. There are cruel, hateful children who delight in tormenting both animals and other kids. These kids are bullies, and believe me, other children are not their only targets. My father, Dr. Sterling Dimmitt, was a well-known and well-respected psychologist in Florida, and he told me when bullies, both girls and boys, grow up, they seek positions of power and become an even greater danger to their communities. Suprisingly, these positions of power often include what would normally be considered a "service" position: police officer, animal control officer, or even head of a "non profit" pet rescue organization. They become big fish in small ponds. These types of positions provide excellent cover for the bully's hateful and vindictive activities because they allow the bully to prey on animals and people they consider weak and defenseless. But, I digress. I'm only trying to make the obvious point that children are what we make them, and it certainly makes more sense to develop a kind, considerate, honest, ethical child than deal with a horror story 20-30 years later. This is why it's so important for caring adults to teach their children to love and care for animals. The best way to teach is by example. |
The right way to introduce a child to a new puppy |
This little boy knows exactly how to hold a puppy |
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