When you introduce a new pet in to your home, aside from the necessities such as food, bedding, leash and shots, the main thing to worry about is training for your puppy. This can be a simple and fun task if you do it right and if you have children it is the perfect past time for them to share with the new addition to the family.



In fact, raising your puppy can be done hand in hand with raising your children and this will allow the pair to form a unique bond that can last a lifetime. Plus in having your child take an active part in the training of the pet, the pet in turn will develop a respect for the child and will learn to listen to them as they would you. This allows for a beneficial and safe relationship.

Training your puppy does not take much and there are some tried and true methods to doing just that. However first you need to decide just what you would like your puppy to do. For instance, it is advisable that your puppy be taught not to jump on your child, or anyone for that matter. In the case of the child, it could prove dangerous. Likewise, you need to encourage your child not play roughly with the puppy. This could lead to the pet jumping and playing roughly back. He or she is not going to know that it is wrong or dangerous.

The next step in training should be to teach your puppy to sit and stay on command. There should be one word commands used to instruct him/her in to doing such. Examples would be Sit or Stay, even down. Under supervision, have your child pick a command and instruct the puppy to do this. The child needs to command this in an even tone and authoritatively. Not aggressively mind you but steady and confident. You or the child can accentuate the command with the point of a finger to help guide the dog into obeying. If the pup does not respond immediately, have your child continue the command until the puppy obeys. Once this is accomplished, the child can give the puppy a treat or even better, a jubilant Good Boy and scratch behind the ears.

Now, sitting in one place and instructing something to do a trick repeatedly will prove boring at some point to both the animal and the human. You can let things liven up a little by having your child run around and play with the puppy with games like musical chairs, when the music stops so do they. You can start out with you being the one to command them. This would provide a material example for the puppy to follow. When this has been going for sometime and seems to be settling in switch roles. Have your child be the one to command sit or stay and see how quick the puppy listens.

When training your dog with your child not only will the pet form a respect for the young one but also the child in turn will form respect for the dog. This is imperative to a healthy bond. Also, it would prove wise to treat your dog to affection and praise more than edible treats themselves. You don't reward your child with candy every time he does something good, he would begin to expect the candy. This works in regards to the animal as well. In teaching them to respond to affection and praise, they will become well rounded and are much more apt to respond to this then to treats. But, when your child is playing with the pet and commanding it to do certain tricks, it will be enjoyable to them both if treats are supplied. A child loves to give a puppy his treat and the puppy of course loves to receive them. Just make it understood that a treat is an every once and a while thing. It is a special privilege.

As your child and puppy grow, the time they share will be fun filled and memorable. They can progress together into other tricks. Think of the smile on your little ones face the first time they get the puppy to roll over, or dance. It is a sense of accomplishment that they will be feeling and is something they will work to feel continually through life. This can teach your child the benefit of working at something to gain it and will teach your puppy the benefit of not reeking havoc upon yours and his home.