Games for kids and puppies

[Jenn and Bogey]

We will be bringing home our mini ALD in about three weeks. We have three young kids (7,5 and 2). I was wondering what are some good games that the kids can play with the puppy that won't create bad behaviors later on. I read that they shouldn't play tug with the puppy, is that correct? Thanks for your help!

[VScott & Lloyd]

Also...my boys go with me and Lloyd to puppy class every week. Our trainer welcomes them with open arms and lets them participate and ask questions. It has really helped the boys listen to someone else other than me on how to handle Lloyd. This has really fostered a love for all dogs (and animals, for that matter), in them.

[Sue]

This is not about games but about kids and puppies.... We brought our 16 week old puppy home8 weeks ago and with two children my best advice it to limit the space your puppy is allowed so that all family members have their "safe place" to be.... My puppy is only allowed on the main floor, NO basement or upstairs. When the puppy was getting excited, getting nippy , it was easy for me to separate my kids by telling them to go upstairs or downstairs...both places they did not have to worry about the dog and could just relax...From this very early age my puppy haas never been upstairs or downstairs and thus do not have to worry about picking everything up all over the house....pieces of lego,, stuffies can be dangerous but am limited to puppy proofing my main floor only.....

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The only exception I would make to that would be to have a crate in your bedroom (not the kids') for the puppy to sleep in at night. Many if not most pups (and dogs for that matter) need to be near their "pack" when they sleep; isolating a puppy alone all night on another floor can make for sleepless nights for the whole family, and a very unhappy pup. 

[Leslie J]

My youngest were 4 year old twin boys when we got Cocoa, and to be honest I found it best not to encourage them to "play" with her. Young kids are very excitable, and so are puppies. I taught them that when they run around like puppies Cocoa will treat them like puppies... jumping, nipping, etc. If they were over stimulating Cocoa I would give her a treat and pop her into her crate. I encouraged them to be CALM with her- I usually kept her tethered when they were around, they would interact with her by petting her and giving her chew toys. I found that keeping Cocoa tethered when she was a puppy kept her from chasing and nipping the little ones. If she was being nice they would pet her, if she was being nippy they could move away. I would never leave a puppy tethered unless she was under my supervision, though. If I was too busy I would crate her.
I didn't let my 4 year olds pick her up at all- I let my 11 year old gently hold her. I only let them play with her in the backyard (not in the house)- they could throw a toy and she would chase it. I would supervise closely. The first year was pretty crazy, but both pooch and kids are well trained!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

"My youngest were 4 year old twin boys when we got Cocoa, and to be honest I found it best not to encourage them to "play" with her." 
Bravo to you for this statement, and for carrying it out with your kids. Too many parents of young children get a puppy almost as if it were a living toy for the kids, and that's usually a disaster.  

[Cammy Todd]

My girls are 5 and 8 and our Izzy (F2 Goldendoodle) is almost 6 months.  Some comments/ideas:

1.  Some of the best advice I got (here on doodlekisses) was to teach the girls to talk in a low and slow voice when around Izzy.  The little girl excited voice or screaming always made the situation worse when Izzy went through her nippy/mouthy stage.  When they wanted to "play" with Izzy, I always gave them a toy so they could redirect her if she started to nip.  It's really funny now, they still do all of the commands with her in this voice. 

2.  Only recently have we started to really let the girls play with her.  Our oldest will play tug with her but only if Izzy obeys the rules - humans only initiate play, she must drop it on command, and humans decide when play stops.  Their absolute favorite game is hide and seek with treats.  I will give the girls a treat and they will go hide somewhere in the house while I keep Izzy in a sit/stay.  Then they yell "Izzy, come" repeatedly until she finds them.  There are a lot of giggles from the girls and Izzy loves this game too! 

My best advice is supervise, supervise, supervise anytime your puppy is with the kids.  As you begin to trust your puppy, you can add more interaction and games.  It will come with time but do your best not to rush it or there will be a lot of tears! 

Congrats on your new puppy.