Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Most people will agree that toddlers and puppies are adorable. Each of these loveable additions to a household brings joy and laughter to a family. But they also have many needs and require loads of attention and special care.
Should You Get a Puppy with a Toddler? It’s not an easy answer. Caring for a puppy is a constant responsibility cost that extends beyond the adoption fee. The decision should be considered very carefully.
Weighing the options might be easier if you know a little more about what a puppy needs – and consider it alongside the growing needs of your toddler. Once you know what you’re getting into, you can make a decision and, if needed, a strategy!
What Kind of Training Does a Puppy Need?
Puppy training starts immediately. The moment you bring it home, you’ll begin the most important steps for integrating a young dog into your family – housetraining. And this requires patience and repetition.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends taking a puppy out a dozen times or more each day:
- First thing in the morning
- Last thing at night
- After playing indoors
- After spending time in a crate
- Upon waking up from a nap
- After chewing a toy or bone
- After eating
- After drinking
You also need to be there to keep an eye on them and get to know their own personal signs and signals for when it’s time to go out.
Teaching Your Puppy to Be Alone
A puppy gets used to all of that cuddling and round-the-clock companionship you lavish on him when he first comes home. Who wouldn’t?
But unless you plan to be home 24-7, dedicating every spare moment to your new pup, you’ll eventually have to teach him how to feel safe, comfortable and calm when you’re not there.
Initial Steps to Puppy’s Solo Time
Here are the steps to make sure your puppy gets their solo time:
- Puppy-proof your home and yard
- Make a safe, confined space:
- Crate
- Exercise Pen
- An area of your home restricted by baby gates
- Get puppy comfortable living in that space
- Associate the space with good things
- Feed meals inside of it
- Play together in there
Once you’ve got puppy entering this new space all on her own, you can start shutting the door behind you. Leave her alone during the short, supervised time and give a reward when you return. Gradually build up to longer absences until she gets comfy. As your dog gets older, she can be trusted to be alone outside of that confined area
Putting in the time to teach a puppy to be alone is well worth it! Having a dog with separation anxiety is hard on both you and your fur baby.
Do Puppies Cry a lot?
Yes, they often do. Like babies, puppies cry and whine to express their feelings. They might be feeling lonely or anxious, hungry or thirsty, frustrated or in pain, or they might have to go outside. Then again, they might just be testing you and learning their boundaries.
If you have your puppy on a schedule, you’ll know if he’s expressing a need. If he eats, drinks, naps and goes outside at regular times, that’s likely not the reason for crying. There might be something more. And if he’s training to sleep when you sleep, that should help with nighttime crying.
But if he’s crying during crate-training time and you know he’s not hurt or needing food or potty, don’t let him out right away. Your reaction teaches him to continue that behavior.
Who Needs a Puppy Sitter?
You just might. During the regular course of the week, you may need a puppy sitter or dog walker, if you can’t be home to spend enough time with your puppy. If you want to go away for the weekend, you might need a pet sitter or boarding facility to care for your pup while you are away.
Family members or a neighbor may be able to help, but there may be times when you must hire out. Fortunately, resources like neighborhood apps and dog-sitting services are easily available. Ask a neighbor for a recommendation or check online for services in your area.
The Cost of Puppy Love
There is no doubt that your furry friend will bring love and happiness to your home. But caring for a puppy is also a serious commitment. A dog will rely on you for its every need: food, shelter, medical care, grooming and more.
There will be initial-year expenses, as well as recurring expenses each year. The Anti-Cruelty Society estimates the costs on their website. Here are some of the expenses you can count on:
|
First-Year Expenses |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Estimate: $1,400 to $2,000 |
Estimate: $700 to $1,000 annually |
|
Adoption fee Initial medical costs Spay/Neuter Collar/Leash Bed Cage/Crate Water and food bowls Training classes Training pads |
Grooming Medical License Toys Food Health Insurance Grooming tools |
Of all of these costs, healthcare can be the most unpredictable. Make sure you insist that your breeder or rescue organization provides you with copies of your puppy’s health tests and vaccination reports during the pre-adoption process.
Knowing your puppy is off to a healthy start is best for both of you – and can help avoid unexpected costs down the road.
The Needs of Your Toddler
We’ve covered some of what it takes to care for a puppy, but what about your toddler? While you are busy puppy-proofing, dog-walking and running to the vet and pet shop, your toddler may be clinging to your pant leg!
According to Parents.com, here’s some of what your little one needs at this time of life:
|
10+ hours of nighttime sleep Two daytime naps Frequent activity: running, jumping, playing, bouncing Boundaries and boundary testing A toddler-proofed home Structure and rules |
Supervision and discipline Praise and affection Active listening Playtime with you Reading time Potty training! Outside time |
In short, your toddler has a lot of the same needs and requirements as your puppy. And as you may have realized, some similar challenges. Fortunately, the same approach to good parenting applies to good puppy parenting.
Both your toddler and fur baby can benefit from:
- Positive reinforcement
- Gentle teaching
- Rewards
- Verbal praise
- Affectionate touch
- Repetition
- Play
Happy Puppy, Healthy Child
There is little doubt that your child has much to gain, both physically and mentally, from having an animal companion. In fact, the AKC has a whole list of the positive effects, including increased emotional intelligence and empathy, less anxiety and stress, a more active lifestyle, greater ease in friendship and a potential reduction of allergies.
The unconditional love of a pet can boost a child’s self esteem and sense of well-being. They may even feel happier, as pet play raises the levels of dopamine and serotonin – which can give a boost to a child’s mood and make them feel joyful and calm.
The amount of work that goes into your pup can certainly have a great payoff.
Introducing a puppy to your family
Outside of puppy-proofing, pet store shopping and training, you’ll have a few other matters to take care of to get your new family member accustomed to his new home. You’ll have socializing to do and introductions to make.
Animal welfare organizations can provide lots of helpful resources on how to help your family and its new member adjust, like this checklist on the Humane Society’s website.
Some tips include:
- Arrange some extra time for you and your pup. Take a few vacation days if you can.
- Do a little research and reading. Check out books at the library or read online guides from an animal welfare agency, like the AKC’s “Puppy Health Care: How to Take Care of a Puppy”
- Have a family discussion about safety, expectations and needs.
Preparation Specific to Toddler-Puppy Households
A little preparation goes a long way when you’re setting up to manage a puppy and a young child at the same time.
Hygiene: hand-washing all around. Keep puppy’s toys separate from baby’s to keep everyone healthy. (And to keep toys in one piece!)
Safe spaces: Puppy needs his private space (crate or enclosure) when he needs a break from your kid!
Safe behavior: Set boundaries: work with your toddler to understand what kind of touching and play is OK with a puppy is and what is not. Teach about being gentle. Stress no pulling or grabbing at the puppy, no getting close to puppy’s face.
A well-rested household: Make sure everyone gets enough sleep! Let your child know that puppy shouldn’t be disturbed when sleeping, eating or chewing.
When it’s Time to Give Puppy and Toddler a Break
Puppies and toddlers are both very playful and energetic – it can be intense, especially if anyone is crabby or tired. So, it’s important to supervise their play to keep aware of how they’re treating and reacting to each other. It’s great to play with them as much as you can. There are some tell-tale signals that your puppy is getting nervous or annoyed.
Intervene if you notice your puppy:
- Moving away or hiding from child
- Tucking tail away and avoiding child
- Yawning, when not tired
- Paw-raising
- Growling, baring teeth, snapping
Most animal-related associations have plenty of resources on this topic. There are even apps and games that families can play together to learn about fun and safe interaction with a new pet.
Socializing Your New Puppy
You can start teaching your puppy how to meet new people as early as seven (7) weeks old. Puppies are smart. And at this age, they are eager, inquisitive and uninhibited. It’s a great opportunity to build relationships with the people and animals who will be in their life.
Carefully monitor these social moments too, so you can ensure your puppy and their new friend are having positive experiences. When done right, says preventativevet.com, early socialization of your puppy will bond him with new acquaintances and may help to reduce the development of fears and anxieties in your growing puppy.
Top-Ten Pre-Puppy Questions to Ask Yourself
Before you go puppy shopping, it’s a great idea to sit down and think of the things that will be much more difficult to consider once you have that warm, snuggly prospective adoptee in your arms. Coincidentally, these are very close to what you’ll be asked on an adoption application.
1. Are you settled in your current home, or are you planning to move?
2. Who will be the primary caregiver for your puppy?
3. How many hours a day will your puppy be left alone?
4. On a daily basis, how much time can you devote to training your puppy?
5. Can you afford to own an animal?
6. What will you do with your puppy when you go out of town?
7. How much household damage and destruction can you tolerate?
8. What will you do if your puppy is a chewer?
9. What kind of behavior can you absolutely not tolerate?
10. What is your main reason for adopting a puppy right now?
If, after consideration, you’re not ready to adopt, just give it a few years. Or think about a slightly older dog who is already house-trained and out of the chewing phase!
There are always good dogs in need of loving homes. According to the ASPCA, there are more than 3.3 million dogs surrendered each year. Of those, only 1.6 million get adopted. It’s never too late; there will always be a dog out there who needs you.