Puppies and Children.

First, if you are considering getting a puppy from me, the one you may choose was born into and has lived in a very calm, quiet, non-chaotic household consisting of just my hubby and myself. They have been talked to in a soothing way and handled very gently.  Our puppies have never had a frightening or traumatizing experience and are not used to hearing screaming, stomping, things being thrown or any type of loud noises or impulsive movements.   Like with most human baby nurseries, our puppies have lived in a very peaceful nursery all of their short lives.  This is one of the reasons why the potential puppy that you get from me will have a very nice, quiet, calm, friendly personality and has no reason to distrust or fear a human.

 My basic advice is the younger the child, the larger the pup needs to be. If a toddler picks up a puppy by a limb or the head like they do their teddies, they are likely to snap a joint. If they kick or fall on a puppy, even accidentally, they could do internal damage. The natural jumping, stomping and flightiness of a child is an accident waiting to happen with a very tiny puppy or a small breed dog. If the puppy feels physical pain or feels tormented by rough play or becomes fearful of the child because of loud noises, even if the child doesn’t intend harm, the puppy will either become timid and scared, or could become snippy and aggressive.  We don’t want either.

One mistake parents often make is assuming that their children will/can take responsibility for caring for the new puppy. Remember that the adult is always responsible. The most responsible children are just that – children. Adults need to take ultimate responsibility. Children can feed, take out, walk, love on, and exercise a puppy with adult supervision and follow-up. However, the natural relationship between children and puppies is not conducive of proper training of a puppy.

Parents should trust their children with a puppy to the extent that they would trust them with a human baby. The adjustment, temperament and personality of the puppy will greatly depend on the age, maturity, personality, obedience and type of interaction from the child, as well as the watchfulness and discipline of the parent. Children and puppies can work, but the decision must be made with a lot of consideration to choose a breed that is a good match for your family.

Smaller breeds like toy poodles, yorkie-poos and shih-poos might be better suited for older children or childless couples, particularly if you feel like you cannot supervise them all the time. Some of the best breeds for young children are hardier breeds such as schnoodles, cockapoos, labradoodles, and goldendoodles. The right fit will become a wonderful family member!