July 3, 2025 • 10 mins
Bringing home a new puppy is exciting—especially when kids are involved! But without the right expectations and structure, it can quickly become overwhelming for everyone.
In this episode, Amy Jensen walks you through how to set your family up for success when introducing a puppy to your home. Learn why some common kid expectations about puppies aren’t realistic, how routines can help both kids and pups thrive, and which rules every family should follow to keep things safe and fun. We also share practical training tips like “Target Hand,” “Sit to Say Please,” and how to create a puppy-safe space using an exercise pen.
This episode is packed with simple, family-friendly guidance to help kids and puppies grow up together with confidence and kindness.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
If you have kids and a puppy, this episode is for you
.
Today we are talking all aboutthings you can do to make this a
successful, fun adventure foryou and your family.
Welcome to the Puppy TrainingPodcast.
I'm Amy Jensen, founder ofBaxter Bella, the online puppy
school.
Here we are all about helpingyou create the best possible
(00:22):
experience raising a puppy, fromtraining tips to practical
tricks, all aimed at fostering ahappy, well-behaved dog who
truly feels like part of thefamily.
So if you are ready to enjoythe journey and strengthen the
bond with your dog, let's getstarted.
Welcome back to the podcast.
(00:44):
This is where I like to helpyou guys raise well-mannered
dogs and build lifelong bonds.
I'm Amy Jensen.
If we haven't met nice to meetyou.
And today's episode is all aboutkids and puppies.
Specifically, how can we set uprealistic expectations that's a
big one Establish helpfulroutines and teach essential
skills that help everyone thrivetogether?
(01:04):
Today, if you're about to bringa new puppy home or already
navigating the chaos, this oneis for you.
Let's start by talking aboutexpectations, because kids often
have big ones when it comes topuppies.
I know many children imaginethat a puppy will be their
instant best friend.
They're going to be ready toplay and cuddle and follow me
around all day like a cartoonsidekick.
(01:26):
While this is a really sweetdream, it's not very realistic,
at least not right away.
I like to call puppies piranhasright, they're land sharks.
You might hear that one as well.
They've got very sharp teeth.
So this expectation pretty muchdwindles quickly.
So here are some other commonbut unrealistic expectations
(01:47):
kids might have.
The puppy will play with me allday.
Puppies, you guys need a lot ofsleep 18 to 20 hours a day.
That doesn't leave much timefor endless games of fetch and
they get tired, and the moretired they get, the more bitey
they get.
So let them sleep.
The second one I hear a lot isI can just pick up the puppy and
go wherever I want, whenever Iwant.
(02:07):
Puppies, just like babies, needpersonal space.
They don't love being grabbedor carried around that can feel
scary to them or uncomfortableand that makes them nervous to
be around little kids, becausethose kids tend to want to pick
them up and tote them around,and the puppy doesn't like that.
So here's a secret, kids, ifyou want to pick them up and
tote them around, and the puppydoesn't like that.
So here's a secret, kids if youwant to be your puppy's
(02:29):
favorite person, don't pick themup, okay, all right.
Another one I hear is the puppywill never bite me.
All puppies go through ateething phase.
They're not trying to be meanto you, but they do explore the
world with their mouths.
So nipping is natural, but ittakes time, patience and
guidance.
And we can teach them how tointeract with you without the
nipping and the biting, but thatdoes take time.
So helping our kids understandthat puppies are babies, not
(02:51):
toys, sets a positive tone rightfrom the start, and reminding
them that puppies grow into bestfriends over time through trust
and training, that's golden.
Next, let's talk about structureand routine and why it matters.
So kids thrive on routine.
So do puppies.
Establishing a clear structurehelps everyone know what to
expect and when.
This also reduces stress andcreates consistency, which is
(03:15):
key when raising a confidentpuppy.
So here's what a typical puppyroutine might include Mealtimes
at consistent hours.
Get your kids involved infeeding the puppy.
They can practice, sit to saypleases with that kibble that's
a great exercise.
Potty breaks immediately aftermeals, naps and play Really
anytime your puppy changesactivity time for a potty break.
Training sessions we keep theseshort, fun and age appropriate
(03:39):
For ideas for your kids.
We have a kids training program, so it's called our Junior
Training Course.
It's four weeks long.
They can do it on their own, ondemand.
They can attend live if we'reteaching it currently live and
they can also do a do ityourself program that keeps
track of their progress.
So we have lots of differentoptions for kids.
Get them involved in thetraining, show them easy
(04:02):
exercises that they can do withthe puppy.
We also have a games andactivities page that they can go
to.
So if your child says, hey, Iwant to play with the puppy, you
say, great, let's do a littletraining session.
What game do you want to play?
Because all of our games aretraining games.
Then have them choose a gamefrom our games and activities
page, get the game ready, havethe food rewards prepared and
then we go get the puppy.
(04:22):
It goes so much more smoothly.
Next, designated rest times.
Make sure puppies are gettingregular naps.
Remember a rested puppy isgoing to be a less bitey puppy.
The more they play, the harderthey play, the more irrational
they get, the more bitey theyget.
They need naps and regular ones.
And then, lastly, predictableplay and exercise times.
So our puppy is going to benapping, then they get up, they
(04:45):
go potty, then we're going tomaybe do a little training
session and then play time.
And this just happens in cyclesthroughout the day.
Around and around.
We go over and over and as ourpuppy grows again, the durations
get longer and their attentionspan grows, but in the beginning
it's literally every hour we'redoing this cycle.
Okay, now, when kids know theirroutine, they can participate
(05:08):
more responsibly.
For example, your child mightbe in charge of helping the
puppy go outside after lunch togo potty or tossing a ball
during supervised playtime.
This also helps prevent thosedifficult moments like a tired
puppy being woken up by an eagerchild, which can lead to
crankiness, growling or evennipping or snapping, and we
don't want any of that.
One of the most helpful thingsyou can do for your puppy and
(05:30):
your kids is create a safe,designated space just for your
dog.
Think of it as your puppy'sbedroom.
We recommend using an exercisepen, a crate with an open door
or a gated off area in a quietpart of your home.
In this space, keep yourpuppy's comfy bed, their crate,
favorite chew toys, food andwater bowls.
You might put a few puzzlefeeders or slow feeders for
(05:50):
meals in there.
This area is your puppy'spersonal retreat.
It's a nice, calm, predictableplace that they can nap, chew
appropriate things or just relax.
So make sure everyone in thefamily knows when the puppy's in
their space they're off limitsno climbing in, no reaching
through and definitely nodragging them out.
You can tell your kids this iswhere a puppy goes to feel safe
(06:12):
and they need a little break.
Just like you, they like quiettime.
Maybe your kids like quiet time, I don't know.
When they were little toddlersthey didn't, but when you get
teenagers they love it.
So, just like you, we want tomake sure that the puppy gets
rest.
They need rest.
So help your kids understandthat A rested puppy is
definitely a less bitey puppyand a calm, consistent space
(06:33):
where they can go relax isreally important in helping them
regulate their energy and theiremotions.
Here are three foundationalskills that are perfect for
teaching both kids and puppiesearly on.
Number one is a target hand.
This is a fun, kid-friendlygame where the puppy learns to
touch a hand with their nose.
So you just simply hold yourhand out like a stop sign when
(06:53):
your puppy sniffs or bumps yourhand, you say yes and you offer
a small food reward.
You can repeat this until yourpuppy reliably touches your hand
on cue.
Kids really like this one.
Now.
Kids love this game becauseit's simple, it's fun and
puppies love it because it'sclear and rewarding.
You can even use it later toguide your dog into position or
to redirect attention.
The second thing you can teachyour kids to do with the dog is
(07:15):
called sit to say please,instead of jumping or barking
for attention.
We teach puppies that sittingpolitely gets them what they
want.
If your puppy wants somethinglike petting or a toy, we wait
for them to sit.
That's how they say please.
Only then do they earn accessto the thing they want.
This is a great one for kids tolearn.
If a puppy isn't sitting, wejust wait, or you can show them
(07:36):
what you're wanting them to do.
If you show them the first fewtimes, guess what?
Then you can start just waitingfor them to sit, because they
know what to do.
Number three is the puppy rulesfor kids.
I've included a downloadablePDF of the things we're going to
talk about that you can printout, put on your fridge and have
it somewhere where everybodycan see it or understand it.
Okay.
So setting ground rules earlyhelps prevent misunderstandings
(07:58):
and it keeps everybody in yourhousehold safe.
Here are some simple rules thatwe want to review often with
our kids.
Number one is don't wake asleeping puppy.
Let them rest.
A tired puppy is a cranky puppy, right?
Number two is don't pull thepuppy from its crate or bed.
These are safe zones.
Teach kids to invite, not grab.
Number three is always ask aparent before interacting with a
(08:20):
puppy.
Not all moments are the righttime to play, so we want to make
sure we're asking mom and dadfor permission before we get the
puppy out.
No rough housing or teasing.
So gentle hands, calm voices,respectful play always.
Number five if the puppy walksaway, that means they are done
and they need a break.
Teach your child to let thepuppy go and not follow or chase
it.
(08:40):
Okay, posting these rulessomewhere visible again, like
the fridge, can help make them anatural part of daily life.
Thanks for being here today,you guys.
Bringing a puppy into a homewith children is one of the most
rewarding experiences a familycan have.
We absolutely adore having dogsin our home.
I think they're great therapyfor everyone involved,
especially my kids, but it doestake patience, education and
(09:00):
some teamwork.
When we help our kids see theworld from a puppy's perspective
and when we build in routines,when we help manage the
environment thoughtfully, teachfun skills and set kind
boundaries, we're setting thestage for a safe and lasting
friendship.
Puppies don't come knowing therules.
Remember they're dogs andthey're living in a human world.
Likewise, kids don't comeknowing dog language, but with
(09:23):
your guidance, they can learntogether.
Thanks for being here today.
Be sure to check out our freeresources on our website,
baxterandbellacom.
We have family trainingprograms, junior training
programs for kids.
We have weekly Q&A sessions.
We have really put together acomprehensive program to help
you and your family besuccessful.
I also included in the shownotes down below a free
(09:44):
downloadable checklist of thingswe talked about today,
including those rules.
You can print it out and put itsomewhere that everybody in
your family can see andreference.
If you liked today's episode,please leave us a review, share
it with a friend.
I really appreciate yoursupport.
Until next time, happy training.
Thanks for tuning in to thePuppy Training Podcast.
(10:05):
I hope today's tips help youfeel more confident and excited
about raising your dog.
Remember, with a littlepatience and consistency, you
can create a loving bond and awell-behaved pup who's a joy to
have in your family.
If you found this episodehelpful, be sure to subscribe,
leave a review and share it withfellow puppy parents.
For more resources, visitBaxter and Bella online.
(10:28):
Until next time, happy training.
If you have kids and a puppy, this episode is for you
.
Today we are talking all aboutthings you can do to make this a
successful, fun adventure foryou and your family.
Welcome to the Puppy TrainingPodcast.
I'm Amy Jensen, founder ofBaxter Bella, the online puppy
school.
Here we are all about helpingyou create the best possible
(00:22):
experience raising a puppy, fromtraining tips to practical
tricks, all aimed at fostering ahappy, well-behaved dog who
truly feels like part of thefamily.
So if you are ready to enjoythe journey and strengthen the
bond with your dog, let's getstarted.
Welcome back to the podcast.
(00:44):
This is where I like to helpyou guys raise well-mannered
dogs and build lifelong bonds.
I'm Amy Jensen.
If we haven't met nice to meetyou.
And today's episode is all aboutkids and puppies.
Specifically, how can we set uprealistic expectations that's a
big one Establish helpfulroutines and teach essential
skills that help everyone thrivetogether?
(01:04):
Today, if you're about to bringa new puppy home or already
navigating the chaos, this oneis for you.
Let's start by talking aboutexpectations, because kids often
have big ones when it comes topuppies.
I know many children imaginethat a puppy will be their
instant best friend.
They're going to be ready toplay and cuddle and follow me
around all day like a cartoonsidekick.
(01:26):
While this is a really sweetdream, it's not very realistic,
at least not right away.
I like to call puppies piranhasright, they're land sharks.
You might hear that one as well.
They've got very sharp teeth.
So this expectation pretty muchdwindles quickly.
So here are some other commonbut unrealistic expectations
(01:47):
kids might have.
The puppy will play with me allday.
Puppies, you guys need a lot ofsleep 18 to 20 hours a day.
That doesn't leave much timefor endless games of fetch and
they get tired, and the moretired they get, the more bitey
they get.
So let them sleep.
The second one I hear a lot isI can just pick up the puppy and
go wherever I want, whenever Iwant.
(02:07):
Puppies, just like babies, needpersonal space.
They don't love being grabbedor carried around that can feel
scary to them or uncomfortableand that makes them nervous to
be around little kids, becausethose kids tend to want to pick
them up and tote them around,and the puppy doesn't like that.
So here's a secret, kids, ifyou want to pick them up and
tote them around, and the puppydoesn't like that.
So here's a secret, kids if youwant to be your puppy's
(02:29):
favorite person, don't pick themup, okay, all right.
Another one I hear is the puppywill never bite me.
All puppies go through ateething phase.
They're not trying to be meanto you, but they do explore the
world with their mouths.
So nipping is natural, but ittakes time, patience and
guidance.
And we can teach them how tointeract with you without the
nipping and the biting, but thatdoes take time.
So helping our kids understandthat puppies are babies, not
(02:51):
toys, sets a positive tone rightfrom the start, and reminding
them that puppies grow into bestfriends over time through trust
and training, that's golden.
Next, let's talk about structureand routine and why it matters.
So kids thrive on routine.
So do puppies.
Establishing a clear structurehelps everyone know what to
expect and when.
This also reduces stress andcreates consistency, which is
(03:15):
key when raising a confidentpuppy.
So here's what a typical puppyroutine might include Mealtimes
at consistent hours.
Get your kids involved infeeding the puppy.
They can practice, sit to saypleases with that kibble that's
a great exercise.
Potty breaks immediately aftermeals, naps and play Really
anytime your puppy changesactivity time for a potty break.
Training sessions we keep theseshort, fun and age appropriate
(03:39):
For ideas for your kids.
We have a kids training program, so it's called our Junior
Training Course.
It's four weeks long.
They can do it on their own, ondemand.
They can attend live if we'reteaching it currently live and
they can also do a do ityourself program that keeps
track of their progress.
So we have lots of differentoptions for kids.
Get them involved in thetraining, show them easy
(04:02):
exercises that they can do withthe puppy.
We also have a games andactivities page that they can go
to.
So if your child says, hey, Iwant to play with the puppy, you
say, great, let's do a littletraining session.
What game do you want to play?
Because all of our games aretraining games.
Then have them choose a gamefrom our games and activities
page, get the game ready, havethe food rewards prepared and
then we go get the puppy.
(04:22):
It goes so much more smoothly.
Next, designated rest times.
Make sure puppies are gettingregular naps.
Remember a rested puppy isgoing to be a less bitey puppy.
The more they play, the harderthey play, the more irrational
they get, the more bitey theyget.
They need naps and regular ones.
And then, lastly, predictableplay and exercise times.
So our puppy is going to benapping, then they get up, they
(04:45):
go potty, then we're going tomaybe do a little training
session and then play time.
And this just happens in cyclesthroughout the day.
Around and around.
We go over and over and as ourpuppy grows again, the durations
get longer and their attentionspan grows, but in the beginning
it's literally every hour we'redoing this cycle.
Okay, now, when kids know theirroutine, they can participate
(05:08):
more responsibly.
For example, your child mightbe in charge of helping the
puppy go outside after lunch togo potty or tossing a ball
during supervised playtime.
This also helps prevent thosedifficult moments like a tired
puppy being woken up by an eagerchild, which can lead to
crankiness, growling or evennipping or snapping, and we
don't want any of that.
One of the most helpful thingsyou can do for your puppy and
(05:30):
your kids is create a safe,designated space just for your
dog.
Think of it as your puppy'sbedroom.
We recommend using an exercisepen, a crate with an open door
or a gated off area in a quietpart of your home.
In this space, keep yourpuppy's comfy bed, their crate,
favorite chew toys, food andwater bowls.
You might put a few puzzlefeeders or slow feeders for
(05:50):
meals in there.
This area is your puppy'spersonal retreat.
It's a nice, calm, predictableplace that they can nap, chew
appropriate things or just relax.
So make sure everyone in thefamily knows when the puppy's in
their space they're off limitsno climbing in, no reaching
through and definitely nodragging them out.
You can tell your kids this iswhere a puppy goes to feel safe
(06:12):
and they need a little break.
Just like you, they like quiettime.
Maybe your kids like quiet time, I don't know.
When they were little toddlersthey didn't, but when you get
teenagers they love it.
So, just like you, we want tomake sure that the puppy gets
rest.
They need rest.
So help your kids understandthat A rested puppy is
definitely a less bitey puppyand a calm, consistent space
(06:33):
where they can go relax isreally important in helping them
regulate their energy and theiremotions.
Here are three foundationalskills that are perfect for
teaching both kids and puppiesearly on.
Number one is a target hand.
This is a fun, kid-friendlygame where the puppy learns to
touch a hand with their nose.
So you just simply hold yourhand out like a stop sign when
(06:53):
your puppy sniffs or bumps yourhand, you say yes and you offer
a small food reward.
You can repeat this until yourpuppy reliably touches your hand
on cue.
Kids really like this one.
Now.
Kids love this game becauseit's simple, it's fun and
puppies love it because it'sclear and rewarding.
You can even use it later toguide your dog into position or
to redirect attention.
The second thing you can teachyour kids to do with the dog is
(07:15):
called sit to say please,instead of jumping or barking
for attention.
We teach puppies that sittingpolitely gets them what they
want.
If your puppy wants somethinglike petting or a toy, we wait
for them to sit.
That's how they say please.
Only then do they earn accessto the thing they want.
This is a great one for kids tolearn.
If a puppy isn't sitting, wejust wait, or you can show them
(07:36):
what you're wanting them to do.
If you show them the first fewtimes, guess what?
Then you can start just waitingfor them to sit, because they
know what to do.
Number three is the puppy rulesfor kids.
I've included a downloadablePDF of the things we're going to
talk about that you can printout, put on your fridge and have
it somewhere where everybodycan see it or understand it.
Okay.
So setting ground rules earlyhelps prevent misunderstandings
(07:58):
and it keeps everybody in yourhousehold safe.
Here are some simple rules thatwe want to review often with
our kids.
Number one is don't wake asleeping puppy.
Let them rest.
A tired puppy is a cranky puppy, right?
Number two is don't pull thepuppy from its crate or bed.
These are safe zones.
Teach kids to invite, not grab.
Number three is always ask aparent before interacting with a
(08:20):
puppy.
Not all moments are the righttime to play, so we want to make
sure we're asking mom and dadfor permission before we get the
puppy out.
No rough housing or teasing.
So gentle hands, calm voices,respectful play always.
Number five if the puppy walksaway, that means they are done
and they need a break.
Teach your child to let thepuppy go and not follow or chase
it.
(08:40):
Okay, posting these rulessomewhere visible again, like
the fridge, can help make them anatural part of daily life.
Thanks for being here today,you guys.
Bringing a puppy into a homewith children is one of the most
rewarding experiences a familycan have.
We absolutely adore having dogsin our home.
I think they're great therapyfor everyone involved,
especially my kids, but it doestake patience, education and
(09:00):
some teamwork.
When we help our kids see theworld from a puppy's perspective
and when we build in routines,when we help manage the
environment thoughtfully, teachfun skills and set kind
boundaries, we're setting thestage for a safe and lasting
friendship.
Puppies don't come knowing therules.
Remember they're dogs andthey're living in a human world.
Likewise, kids don't comeknowing dog language, but with
(09:23):
your guidance, they can learntogether.
Thanks for being here today.
Be sure to check out our freeresources on our website,
baxterandbellacom.
We have family trainingprograms, junior training
programs for kids.
We have weekly Q&A sessions.
We have really put together acomprehensive program to help
you and your family besuccessful.
I also included in the shownotes down below a free
(09:44):
downloadable checklist of thingswe talked about today,
including those rules.
You can print it out and put itsomewhere that everybody in
your family can see andreference.
If you liked today's episode,please leave us a review, share
it with a friend.
I really appreciate yoursupport.
Until next time, happy training.
Thanks for tuning in to thePuppy Training Podcast.
(10:05):
I hope today's tips help youfeel more confident and excited
about raising your dog.
Remember, with a littlepatience and consistency, you
can create a loving bond and awell-behaved pup who's a joy to
have in your family.
If you found this episodehelpful, be sure to subscribe,
leave a review and share it withfellow puppy parents.
For more resources, visitBaxter and Bella online.
(10:28):
Until next time, happy training.
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