First and foremost, as with introducing the newcomer to the resident animals, first meetings (and many thereafter) between children and a new puppy will need to be under careful supervision.
Before bringing the new puppy home, be sure to talk to them about the new puppy and how to treat him. Discuss what they might expect from the newest “family member”. Stress the importance of being gentle and calm around the new puppy. Explain they are not to yell, scare or tease the puppy.
When first introducing them to each other, have each child wait calmly for the puppy to come to him or her. The children should be instructed to remain calm while the new puppy “checks out” each one. If the puppy becomes too excited and jumps, nips, or starts to urinate, do not yell at the puppy. Instead, remove the puppy until the situation has calmed down and try the introductions again.
Supervise play times for the children and puppy. Allow a few sessions per day with each session lasting no more than half an hour. If the puppy starts to seem stressed or frightened, take the puppy away from the situation, and have the children leave the room for a little while. After you have calmed the puppy, place him in his crate and go talk to the children, asking them why the puppy may have become frightened and what they should have done to prevent the situation. Helping them to see how their actions and voices can affect a young puppy, they can also learn empathy for animals and humans, too.
By having your children help with caring for the puppy can teach them responsibility while helping them to interact positively with the puppy. Having little children help keep their toys put away and out of puppies reach can be thought of as a way of “keeping puppy safe.” They can also help put the puppy’s toys into the puppy’s toy box when the puppy is finished playing with them. Older children can help with feeding and training the puppy, both of which should be supervised as needed.
