When in doubt, don't shout.

My 11 year old daughter has her very own (co-owned) 6 Month old standard poodle puppy.  I wasn't ready for a second dog however she emotionally needed one.

My good friend Heather Bryan Of Prodigy Poodles made an agreement with my Lily about good grades,  good choices & caring for Mercedes, who is now 6 months old. If she did these things she could have Mercedes,  at the time she was 8 weeks old.

I've learned a lot about myself as a parent as I've watched my young daughter raise and mother a puppy.  I need to be a better mom.

I noticed that I'm constantly telling her to "be nice, stop yelling,  you can't spank her, she's just a baby, you need to snuggle her more.."

Everything she does is a reflection of how I've raised her. I'm not kind to my kids like I am to my animals and that I see needs to change. 

Having a puppy is so hard because how you treat them is a reflection of who they will become.  Yes, each has their own personalities and tendencies.  Though we shape them at a young age to who they will become.  That is A LOT of responsibility. 

Puppies and young children are so similar in that way. If you're having trouble with potty training what is it YOU are doing wrong, not them.

Here's a great training example. 

Me: sit
Dog: stares into my eyes
Me: sit
Dog: barks
Me: SIT!
Dog: cowers
Me: you dumb dog
Dog: ....

Constantly telling our dogs the same command without any praise or teaching of what they are doing wrong only confuses them.

Dogs want you to be happy.  They want to please us. We are the ones that are the problem.  Positive reinforcement,  is the best way to train. If you're constantly yelling at then or getting them in trouble for what they don't know is wrong they learn a few different things. 

1. They learn to not get caught.
2. Hide from you.
3. Ignore you.

It's all training. 

Be nice, be loving,  use a soft tone.

Or like children they will ignore you,  have selective hearing and start to act out. No dog does anything to spite you. They're seeking attention for anything,  whether it is good or bad behavior. 

Change your tone, love them more. Teach them vocabulary.  Dogs are smart, some smarter then others which isn't necessarily a good thing.

When in doubt don't shout.  I'm going to be better,  for my kids... because I'm a yeller and I have never been more aware of how bad it is, since I've been watching my daughter be a first time dog owner.

Kids deserve better and it's our job as adults to teach our children the proper way to raise a puppy. They are the future dog owners and future dogs need compassion.  Never stop learning.