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There's no perfect age to get your child a puppy, and you can make it work whether your child is a baby, a toddler, or older. As a dog trainer and a mom, though, I've found it gets noticeably easier around age 4, and easier again around age 7. Here's what to expect at each stage.
Having an infant and a puppy is doable, but having realistic expectations, a good plan, and help (ideally) are key.
Caring for a puppy is physical - for the moms who gave birth, the postpartum recovery takes time, and it can be challenging to care for a newborn and a puppy simultaneously. It can also be hard to bond with a puppy when you have just had a baby.
If you want your puppy to be well-socialized and well-trained, you need to dedicate TIME and ENERGY. If you have an adult dog, integrating a puppy is often a process.
If this is your dream, go for it. It will be challenging, but it can be done.
Toddlers are impulsive, curious explorers. A lot depends on whether you have a 1 or 3-year-old toddler. Your toddler and puppy might be best friends one day, but the first weeks or months together are frequently far from what parents have envisioned.
Management tools such as gates, exercise pens or playpens, or crates are a MUST for the safety of the child and the dog. Puppies are often jumpy and will knock a toddler over. Unlike infants, toddlers move. A LOT. Provide your dog with an escape route and a safe place where the toddler cannot follow.
Both puppy and toddler are interested in what the other has or does, and both need boundaries and training. You need to be 100% present and always supervise when you have them together.
Pro tip: Watch this reel to learn how to stop a puppy from jumping on little kids.
Teaching your toddler to be gentle with your puppy will be a process. If you allow petting, it has to be structured and supervised. To learn more about petting, download my free Toddlers and Dogs Guide.
It is pretty much impossible not to lose toys, even with the best management system. On the other hand, children quickly learn to clean up their toys and not leave them all over the house. A toy rotation system and separate play areas are helpful.
Here are a few basic rules for families with older toddlers (2 years old) and puppies. If you are interested in a comprehensive list of rules with a template to add your own, download our Rules of Interaction here.
I genuinely believe that you can make every configuration work. It might not be easy, but it is doable to have an infant, a toddler, and a puppy. Based on my personal and professional experience, there is a time when it gets EASIER. This magic age when children are better at following rules, are more coordinated and are somewhat independent.
I asked Caley Kukla, M.Ed., for her opinion, as a behavior specialist and parent coach. Caley is also a mom to two young children and a dog. Here’s what she has to say.
“Around age 4, children begin to become more socially aware. We begin to see social, interactive play and a bit more awareness of some “social rules” and potential dangers. These attributes can be helpful when introducing a dog into the family dynamics because children are more able to understand the importance of giving the dog space, gentle, calm interactions, and basic safety guidelines. Four year-olds also have the ability to follow multi-step directions, so they’re more likely to be willing and able to help with dog-related responsibilities. Caregivers should be noted that there is a wide range of development and each child is different, so observing your child and knowing their temperament is key to determining if this is a good time to introduce a dog.”
Indeed, for us, that magic age was 4.
What changes around age 7
“Another big shift in development happens around age 7. We begin to see budding skills such as impulse control, empathy/perspective-taking, and a desire to have more agency or influence in the world around them. These new tendencies can be extremely helpful when bringing a dog into the house. While children at this age are still very active, they tend to have a bit more awareness of their impulses and ability to control them. They also have more awareness of how their actions impact others. Combined, these developmental shifts can help children observe “safe interaction rules” with the dog and understand the why behind the rules.
Seven year-olds tend to desire more agency, so they are more likely to become internally motivated to do helpful tasks independently - especially when it comes to a dog! Again, development is not linear and not the same for every child, so it’s best to take your own child’s developmental stage into consideration during the decision-making process.”
When my kids were nearly 7 years old, we got a Spanish Water Dog puppy namedHela.
The biggest difference I am noticing between 4 and almost 7 years olds is how much they can do independently with the puppy. To me as a parent, having a puppy is actually way easier now because my kids’ energy matches the puppy's energy but they have the skills to play and even train the puppy safely without my supervision. And they really like to do it! While I was tempted to get a dog earlier, I’m so glad we waited.
It is a very individual decision. I know many families who choose to wait longer, they want their youngest child to be elementary school age before getting a dog. And many who want their children to grow up with a puppy, even if the beginnings might be rough. There’s no right or wrong decision. When you're ready, here's how to select a dog for a family with young kids.
Whatever you decide, good luck! You’ve got this! And I’m here to help and support you.
There's no single right age, but it often gets noticeably easier around age 4. Behavior specialist and parent coach Caley Kukla, M.Ed., explains that around 4, children become more socially aware, can follow multi-step directions, and better understand giving a dog space and keeping interactions gentle and calm. Another developmental shift around age 7 brings more impulse control and empathy. Every child is different, so watch your own child's temperament.
It can work, but the first weeks or months are often far from what parents imagine, and a lot depends on whether your toddler is 1 or 3. Puppy mouthing and jumping can frighten toddlers, some children need to be kept separated from the puppy for weeks, and jealousy over the attention the puppy gets is common. Gates, exercise pens, or crates are a must, and you need to be 100% present and supervising whenever they're together.
Yes, it's doable, but you need realistic expectations, a good plan, and ideally help. Caring for a puppy is physical, postpartum recovery takes time, and it can be hard to bond with a puppy right after having a baby. Gates, crates, and playpens, food puzzle toys and chews, a dog walker or puppy daycare, and dividing care between parents all make it more manageable.
Use gates, playpens, and crates. They're a must for the safety of both your child and your dog. Give your puppy an escape route and a safe place your toddler can't follow. Always supervise when they're together, keep toys on hand to redirect the puppy's mouth, and keep them apart when either one is overstimulated. Long sleeves, long pants, and shoes around the puppy help, and a puppy training course, class, or private trainer is worth the investment.
Let your child help with the safe parts of your puppy's care. They want to help. By around age 4, Dominika's children could fill food puzzle toys like Kongs on their own, ask a puppy for a sit or down, and redirect a puppy to a toy. By around 7, children are more internally motivated to do helpful tasks independently, and hers could play with and even train their puppy, Hela, safely without her supervision.
Online resources to help your baby and dog get along—right from the start and as they grow up together.
