Adopting a new puppy can be exciting but, properly training a new puppy can be exhausting, especially if you have kids. Dog training requires consistency, which can be derailed by young kids who just want to play with the new family member.
Luckily, there are many ways to ensure your puppy gets the proper training, even when you have eager children running around. While you may be responsible for more serious training, such as teaching your puppy to go to the bathroom outside, there are many ways kids of all ages can assist with training.
When kids are a part of dog training, not only is the puppy receiving consistent training, the kids are also learning how to interact with him or her. Therefore, if your kids are old enough to play with your puppy then you should let them teach him or her a few tricks.
The younger your kids are the easier the tricks they teach need to be. Young children aren’t known for their patience or long attention span. Luckily, these 5 dog tricks are easy for kids of all ages to teach Fido.
Trick #1: Teaching Your Puppy Its Name
Teaching your puppy his or her’s new name can make the rest of the training process easier. It’s also one of the easiest tricks your kids can teach, as it doesn’t require intense concentration—at least not for your kid.
Instruct your kid to say your dog’s name every time they pet, hug, or play with him or her. You could even instruct them to say your dog’s name when he or she is passing through the room. Make sure they give your dog a couple of delicious dog treats when he or she responds to their name.
While this isn’t a difficult trick for your kids to teach, make sure they understand your dog only gets a treat when he or she responds to their name. One suggestion is to repeat your dog’s name several times. If your dog responds and comes to you or the kids, then he or she deserves a treat.
Trick #2: The Sit Command
In the beginning, teaching your dog to sit is a trick you and your kid should do together. Or if you have more than one kid you can teach them to work together. As your dog starts to learn the command it won’t take more than one person to finish the training.
When you first start teaching this command, have your child hold a treat above your dog’s nose. If your child’s arm is long enough, place his or her hand on top of your dog’s butt. Or put your hand, or have another child put his or her hand, on your dog’s butt.
Then have your child move the treat upwards, while you press down on your dog’s butt. Make sure to repeat the word “sit,” while you are gently pressing down. Once your dog sits reward him or her with a treat. Repeat this cycle several times throughout the week.
Trick #3: Hush
“Hush” is another easy trick for kids of all ages to help teach. It only requires your kids to watch and respond to your dog’s barking. Therefore, even the youngest toddlers can learn to hush your dog.
When you first teach your dog to hush, have your kids watch your when he or she is barking. If your dog notices you or your kids staring and gets quiet, have your kid reward him or her with a treat. Do this every time your dog become quiet, even if it’s only for a second or two.
As your dog starts to respond to the treats, instruct your kid to say hush. Repeat this as often as possible, so your dog associates “hush” with him becoming quiet. After a while you will no longer have to give him or her treats to quiet down.
Trick #4: Heel
Depending on how young your kid is, you might have to help him or her to teach your dog to heel. Even if your kid isn’t old enough to walk your dog by him or herself, they should be a part of training. This trick is key to being able to walk your dog without him or her pulling on the leash.
Start off walking your dog at home, either throughout the house or in the backyard. Put your dog’s collar and leash on him or her. Instruct your kid to hold the leash close to their side as they slowly walk around. Then have them say “heel” when your dog stays too close to their side.
When you think your dog is ready you can start to walk him down the street. If your dog pulls on the leash say “heel.” Remember to reward your dog with treats when he listens and stays at your side.
Trick #5: Stay and Come
Once your dog understands the “sit” command, “stay” and “come” are fairly easy tricks to teach. They are also simple for your kids to teach. It’s also a good trick for kids who are slightly hyperactive, as it allows them to move around.
Start by teaching stay. Once your kids have instructed your dog to sit, have them walk backward. If your dog starts to follow them, have your kids stop and repeat the process. Once your dog stays, even if it’s for a few seconds, give him or her a treat.
Repeat this process, increasing the distance between your kids and your dog each time. Once your dog is willing to sit and stay for a few minutes, you can move on to teaching the “come” command.
Once your dog is sitting still, have your kid walk a small distance and say “come.” They can also pat their legs or say your dog’s name. When your dog comes to them, tell your kid to pet and praise them. They can give the dog a treat every few times he comes.
There are many tricks you can teach your kids and your dogs. However, these five tricks are usually the easiest tricks your kids can help teach the dog. They also tend to be the most useful, as they are the backbone to teaching your dog more complicated tricks.
Author Bio:
Anna Smith resides in beautiful Santa Monica, CA, where she works as a Pet Nutrition Expert in a leading retail pet store. She is responsible for nutritional strategies for different breeds and development of new products on the market in compliance with Association of American Feed Control Officials. Anna’s passions are education about proven methods and best practices in the industry and her dog Max, who is always well-fed. She also helps curate contents for DogsAholic.com