Introducing new puppies

• If a puppy is chosen, you should ensure that he is young enough to be socialized to children, or has had a positive experience with children in the breeder's home. 
   

• If an older puppy is obtained, its response to children should be assessed prior to acquisition. It is particularly important to observe the puppy at feeding occasions or when in possession of a toy. Some puppies who are not accustomed to the presence of children may respond in a fearful or threatening way on these occasions.
   

• Children should be educated in the responsibilities of pet ownership. For example, children should be taught that puppies are not toys, and can feel pain if roughly handled.
   

• Children should be encouraged to take part in activities with puppies that are appropriate to the child's age. For example, a four-year-old child should not be solely responsible for a puppy during a walk, but can assist an adult when feeding the puppy.
   

• At an appropriate age, children should be encouraged to train puppies in appropriate obedience activities such as sitting and coming when called. These activities serve to teach puppies that children are higher in the social hierarchy than they are.

• Ideally, the puppy should have been socialized to children as a puppy.
   

• The puppy should be responsive to you and readily obey basic commands such as sit and come.
   

• Before the child arrives, you should modify the way you handle the puppy to behave more like a child. Handling should focus on ears, tail and paws, initially by stroking and later with gentle pulling. The puppy should be rewarded for accepting this contact. It will also be beneficial if other children can be encouraged to handle the puppy while rewarding the puppy with food or praise.
   

• The puppy should be taught not to snatch food or toys from a hand but only to take these objects gently after being told to do so.
   

• Your routine with the puppy should be modified in anticipation of the arrival of a new child. If the puppy is used to spending all of his time with the owner, this should gradually be reduced so that no sudden reduction occurs when the child arrives.
   

• As soon as a new baby arrives, puppies should be rewarded (with food or praise) when in its presence so that they come to associate the presence of the child with pleasure. Shutting the puppy away or shouting at it whenever the baby appears may lead to the puppy perceiving the child as a negative experience.
   

• Young children should never be left alone with a puppy. They have no concept of pain or suffering in others and may treat the puppy as if he were a toy.
   

• Aspects of canine health care such as worming and control of other parasites should be a routine part of responsible puppy ownership. However, care must be taken to ensure that this is not overlooked with all the new activities associated with the arrival of a new child.