Your New Pug Puppy and
Your Children

Children are always thrilled when the new pug puppy comes home for the first time. They want to love on him and play with him all the time. But, before you let the children have at the unsuspecting puppy, set some ground rules to protect them both.

If your children were the catalyst for purchasing your new pug puppy then you should know that you will be the one taking care of the puppy most of the time. It is sad, but true. Indulging your children's need for another living thing means another non tax deductible dependent for you.

To keep the children involved, give them tasks to do concerning the puppy's care. Just like children your new puppy needs a schedule so start a whiteboard of duties. Show the children how to do each task on the list and then let them watch you do them before you let them do. If your children have school during the day, give them the job of feeding their new puppy in the morning and then again in the evening.

All puppies need exercise and so do all children. Put the two together. The children can help you pick out a leash for the new puppy. Then, take them around the neighborhood for a walk. Choose a safe route for your children and your new puppy to follow during their walk.

The children can take the puppy for bathroom breaks also. Teach them the same route that you are teaching to the puppy. They must use the same commands when he does his business. This helps the children to recognize when puppy fidgets because he has to go to the bathroom.

Finally, children will want to play with the pug puppy. In some respects, the pug puppy is like a life-sized stuffed animal to them. The only difference is that this stuffed animal can be hurt or even bite. Children have to learn to respect their pug puppy. This respect includes not playing roughly with him/her, not disturbing his/her sleep, and not poking at him. A child practicing their death grip on their pug puppy is a bad move and the puppy will see certain behaviors as aggressive possibly causing puppy to bite them and it won't always be a playful nip.

Show your children the correct way to touch their new pug puppy. His fur should be stroked and his head patted. Looking their pug puppy in the eye is a sign of challenge. Encourage your children not to try this.

Children should also avoid the areas of your home that are designated as "puppy's areas". They can put out food for puppy or take him to the bathroom, but these places are no place to play. Just like puppy sleeps in his bed in a certain place, he needs places that are safe zones for him to play with the children.

Pug puppies love children and children love them. The key to a lasting relationship is for your pug puppy and your children to maintain mutual respect for each other. Once this is established, your pug puppy and the children will have a loving and playful relationship they'll both cherish and remember for a lifetime.