When you choose a puppy, look for one that likes to be held and does not mind being placed on its back; this indicates that the animal won't mind the rough play that toddlers can dish out.

Make sure that the animal is not aggressive. Every veterinarian has his or her own choices of best breeds for families with children. My own favorites are golden and Labrador retrievers and collies. They tend to be gentle and extremely good with children.

Keep your own time and space limitations in mind before deciding on a pet. And remember that a cute little puppy will eventually grow into a full-size dog. Whiskers, ears, furry coats, and wagging tails are often too tempting for a curious toddler to resist. And even the most tolerant pet may snap if it is hurt or awaked suddenly.

To avoid accidents, never leave a toddler alone with a pet. Remind your child to treat the animal gently, and if play becomes too rough, separate the two be fore one accidentally hurts the other.

Praise your child whenever he demonstrates caring behavior toward his pet.

Puppies generally teethe between four and six months of age. And just like a baby, they like to chew to relieve inflamed gums. To make sure that your puppy does not chew on any of your toddler's toys, provide the animal with plenty of its own chewing items, such as hard rubber toys and bones, or old tennis balls.

For many families with toddlers, an older or mixed-breed dog is often a better choice than a puppy. Mixed breed dogs, or mutts, make great pets, since they tend to have friendlier dispositions and better health than many purebred animals.

Animal shelters are a great source of healthy pets, and adopting a dog is usually much less expensive than buying one. Before you adopt a dog, make sure that the animal was not given up because it was aggressive or hard to handle. Ask whether the dog be longed to a family with children and whether the animal is completely housebroken; also check that its shots are up to date.

Once you decide on a dog, have a veterinarian give the animal a complete exam. Both puppies and older dogs need a safe area away from your child.

Training your dog early

Most dogs learn how to behave with people between seven and eighteen weeks of age. During these early weeks, a puppy should be petted frequently-especially on the head, back, and stomach-to teach it that you and your family are friendly and not out to harm it.

Instead of striking your puppy when it does some thing wrong, praise and reinforce good behavior with plenty of comments like "Good puppy" and "Good boy." A dog thrives when it knows it has pleased its owner.

Avoid playing aggressive games such as tug-of-war and wrestling with your puppy; he might try to play in a similarly rough way with your toddler and end up hurting the child.

Many veterinarians recommend crate training-that is, providing your pet with a crate that will act as the animal's own self contained area. These crates, which are made out of plastic or wire, will also help you house break the puppy, since dogs usually do not soil their own area. Your veterinarian can help you choose the best size and style for your dog.