Teach and Train
The first few days of having a new pet can be hard on the pup and your family. You want to make this newcomer feel welcome, while also ensuring your children feel comfortable and not scared around the dog, so you need to make sure that you teach your children how to approach and handle the dog, while training your pup to not behave badly. Make sure that you talk to your children about the proper way to hold, pet, and reach for a dog. You can also teach them about reading the dog’s body language. As far as the dog, you’ll want to teach against bad behaviors, such as growling or nipping. You can do this through positive reinforcement for good behaviors (think treats, a new toy, or extra playtime) and by implementing “time outs” for when he or she exhibits undesirable behaviors.
