Pets may enhance their self-esteem and help them to learn empathy. However, having a pet can also result in some negative consequences for both the child and the animal. Good relationships between kids and pets don't just passively happen. As a parent, you will need to take an active role in forming the relationship between your children and your dog in order to make their interactions pleasant as well as safe for both the children and the animal. Adding a puppy to the family will feel somewhat like adding a new baby.
Puppies require lots of time, patience and training.
They require almost constant supervision in order to work with normal puppy behaviors such as house-soiling and chewing. Puppies also require socialization for normal behavior development. This means they need to be taken places, to be exposed to new things and to meet new people. Puppies, because they are babies, are somewhat fragile creatures. They may become frightened, or even injured, by well-meaning, curious young children who want to constantly pick them up, hug them or explore their bodies by pulling on tails or ears.