There is something incredibly special about watching a child and a puppy grow up together. For many families bringing home a Divine Pups Shih Tzu, that relationship is part of what they have imagined from the very beginning—the cuddles on the couch, a little shadow following the children through the house, and eventually a beloved companion woven into everyday family life.
But preparing children for a Shih Tzu puppy requires a little more than teaching them to be “nice to the puppy.”
Shih Tzus are small companion dogs. They were bred for centuries to live closely alongside people, and many naturally develop deep relationships with their families. At the same time, their small size means interactions that might be harmless to a larger puppy can be frightening—or even dangerous—for a tiny Shih Tzu.
At Divine Pups, we want children to enjoy their puppy while also learning to understand and respect the little dog they are welcoming into their family.
The goal isn’t to make children afraid of handling their puppy. It’s to teach them how to do it appropriately so that both the child and puppy can feel safe, confident, and comfortable together.
Why Preparing Children for a Shih Tzu Puppy Is Different
One of the biggest differences when preparing children for a Shih Tzu puppy is simply size. Your puppy is little.
To an excited child, that can make a Shih Tzu puppy seem almost like a stuffed animal—something they naturally want to scoop up, carry around, cuddle tightly, or place on their lap. But puppies aren’t toys.
A young Shih Tzu can be injured by an accidental fall from a child’s arms, being stepped on during energetic play, jumping from furniture, or being handled too roughly. That’s why one of the first things we want Divine Pups families to teach their children is this:
Small doesn’t mean fragile emotionally—but it does mean we need to be thoughtful physically.
We want our puppies to grow into confident little dogs who enjoy interacting with people, not dogs who learn that small hands are unpredictable or uncomfortable.
Before Bringing Home Your Shih Tzu Puppy
Preparing children for a Shih Tzu puppy should begin before homecoming day. Children have often been waiting weeks or even months for their puppy. By pickup day, their excitement level may be through the roof. Talk about that first day ahead of time.
Explain that their puppy has just experienced an enormous change. They have left the environment they know and suddenly entered a completely different home filled with unfamiliar sights, smells, voices, routines, and people.
Even a confident puppy may need a little time to take everything in. Instead of planning a puppy homecoming filled with visitors and nonstop activity, allow those first hours to be about your immediate family. Let your puppy explore….Let them sleep….Let them observe. And most importantly, let them begin discovering that their new family is a safe place.
Simple Rules for Children and a Shih Tzu Puppy
Children don’t need dozens of puppy rules. In fact, a few consistent ones are often much easier to remember.
Teach children to use gentle hands, walk around the puppy rather than running or chasing them, keep their faces away from the puppy’s face, and never disturb the puppy while they’re sleeping.
One of our favorite rules is incredibly simple:
If the puppy walks away, we let them go.
A puppy walking away isn’t rejecting your child. They’re communicating.
Teaching children to respect that communication is one of the earliest ways we can help build trust between children and their Shih Tzu puppy.
Teaching Children How to Pick Up a Shih Tzu Puppy
This deserves special attention with a toy breed. Children naturally want to carry little puppies. However, carrying a puppy should be something parents teach and supervise rather than something a child automatically gets to do. Very young children are usually safest enjoying their puppy while sitting on the floor. Rather than allowing a young child to walk through the house carrying a Shih Tzu puppy, have them sit down and allow an adult to place the puppy gently in their lap.
Older children can learn how to properly support the puppy’s body, keeping them secure against their own body rather than allowing the puppy’s legs to dangle. And children should never pick a puppy up by the front legs, grab them around the neck, or attempt to carry them when the puppy is struggling to get down.
The Floor Is Your Friend
When preparing children for a Shih Tzu puppy, remember this simple principle:
The closer everyone is to the floor, the safer many early interactions become.
Have children sit on the floor for cuddle time. Play with toys on the floor. Practice simple training exercises there. Let your puppy climb into your child’s lap voluntarily. These interactions allow children to enjoy the wonderful closeness of having a tiny puppy without creating unnecessary opportunities for falls.
A Shih Tzu Puppy Still Needs Personal Space
Because Shih Tzus are companion dogs, people sometimes assume they want to be held and cuddled constantly. Some absolutely adore affection. But affection should still include choice. Preparing children for a Shih Tzu puppy means teaching them that their puppy is allowed to say, “I’ve had enough.” Your puppy may hop off a lap, turn their head away, move to another part of the room, retreat to their bed, or simply become less engaged.
That’s okay. We never want a child chasing a puppy through the house because they’re determined to finish the cuddle. Giving your puppy the ability to move away actually helps build confidence because they learn that they don’t need to escalate their behavior to make someone listen.
Learn to Listen When Your Shih Tzu Puppy “Talks”
Dogs communicate constantly. They just don’t use words. One of the greatest gifts parents can give children is teaching them to notice what their puppy is saying. Preparing children for a Shih Tzu puppy includes recognizing some of the quieter signs that a puppy may want space.
A puppy might turn their head away, lick their lips, yawn, become suddenly still, move away, lower their body, tuck their tail, hide behind someone, or retreat to their bed or crate. None of these behaviors should be interpreted from one signal alone. Context matters. But they are excellent reasons for children to stop what they’re doing and give the puppy a moment.
Children can learn to ask a very simple question:
“Is my puppy still choosing to play with me?”
If the answer is yes, wonderful.
If the puppy is trying to leave, playtime is finished for now.
For families who would like to learn more, the American Kennel Club has a helpful resource explaining canine body language and the subtle ways dogs communicate discomfort, relaxation, and excitement.
Creating a Safe Space for Your Shih Tzu Puppy
Every puppy should have somewhere they can completely relax. For your Divine Pups puppy, that might be a crate, puppy pen, bed inside a gated area, or another designated space within your home.
When preparing children for a Shih Tzu puppy, teach them that this area belongs to the puppy. That means children don’t crawl inside the crate with them. They don’t reach through the puppy pen to wake them. And they don’t repeatedly call a sleeping puppy out because they want to play.
Puppies need a tremendous amount of sleep while they’re growing and developing.
An overtired Shih Tzu puppy can become extra mouthy, busy, frustrated, or seemingly unable to settle. Sometimes what looks like a puppy who suddenly forgot all their manners is simply a very tired baby who needs a nap.
Shih Tzu Puppies, Children and Big Emotions
Family homes aren’t quiet all the time. Children laugh loudly. They run through the house. They cry. Siblings argue. Toys get dropped. Someone occasionally has a meltdown. Your puppy will eventually learn what normal life sounds like in your home. But that doesn’t mean they need to be in the middle of every intense moment.
If a child is having a particularly loud tantrum or the house suddenly becomes chaotic, an adult can calmly give the puppy something enjoyable in their safe space. This isn’t punishment. It’s simply giving your puppy somewhere comfortable to relax while the humans handle the human situation. Over time, your Shih Tzu begins learning that unusual noises and emotional moments can happen without anything bad happening to them.
Safe Play Between Children and Shih Tzu Puppies
Preparing children for a Shih Tzu puppy also means choosing games that work well for a small dog. One game we don’t recommend is having children run through the house screaming while encouraging the puppy to chase them. It’s exciting, but it can quickly turn into a puppy grabbing pajama pants, nipping ankles, getting under someone’s feet, or becoming overly stimulated.
With a little Shih Tzu, there’s also the added risk of a child accidentally stepping on the puppy during the excitement. Instead, involve children in activities that encourage thoughtful interaction.
Children can toss an appropriate toy, participate in short training sessions, hide a few pieces of kibble for a supervised search game, help prepare enrichment activities, or reward the puppy for behaviors the family is teaching.
Your child begins to discover that interacting with their puppy doesn’t always mean picking them up. Sometimes the most rewarding relationship develops when children learn how to communicate with their dog.
What About Hugging and Kissing Your Shih Tzu?
This is another important conversation for families preparing children for a Shih Tzu puppy. Humans show affection with hugs and kisses. Dogs don’t necessarily communicate affection the same way. A child wrapping both arms tightly around a puppy, squeezing them, or putting their face directly against the puppy’s face can make some dogs uncomfortable.
Instead, teach children to allow affection to happen more naturally.
Sit together.
Pet gently.
Let your puppy climb into their lap.
Scratch their chest.
Play together.
And if your puppy chooses to snuggle beside your child, enjoy it.
Those quiet moments become even more meaningful when the puppy is choosing to participate.
Adult Supervision Is Important—Even With a Sweet Puppy
A wonderful temperament doesn’t replace supervision.
Your Divine Pups puppy may be affectionate, social, tolerant, and incredibly people-oriented. They’re also still a puppy. And children are still children. Neither should be responsible for managing a difficult interaction.
If the puppy becomes too excited or mouthy, an adult should redirect the puppy.
If a child is becoming too rough or repeatedly trying to pick up a puppy who wants to be left alone, an adult should step in for the puppy.
If play is getting too energetic, separate everyone before someone gets hurt.
Adult supervision isn’t about expecting something bad to happen. It’s about preventing interactions from reaching that point in the first place.
Preparing Children for a Shih Tzu Puppy Builds Something Bigger
There is a beautiful lesson hidden inside all of these little rules. When we teach children how to live respectfully with a puppy, we’re teaching them empathy.
We’re teaching them that loving something doesn’t mean we get to do whatever we want with it. We’re teaching them to notice body language. We’re teaching patience. We’re teaching them that another living creature’s comfort matters. And we’re teaching them that trust is something we build.
At Divine Pups, we love the affectionate, people-oriented nature that makes the Shih Tzu such a special companion. These little dogs have an incredible way of becoming part of the rhythm of a family—curling up beside someone on the couch, following their people from room to room, joining everyday adventures, and seemingly always knowing where their favorite person is.
For a child, that relationship can become incredibly special.
Preparing children for a Shih Tzu puppy simply helps ensure that relationship begins with understanding. Your puppy doesn’t need your children to be perfect. Your children don’t need to be afraid of doing something wrong.
They simply need adults willing to show them how to be gentle, recognize what their puppy is communicating, and respect those moments when their little friend needs some space. Because bringing home a Shih Tzu isn’t simply about adding a puppy to your household.
You’re welcoming a tiny companion who may very well become one of your child’s very best friends.
Looking for the Right Shih Tzu for Your Family?
Every family is different, and finding a puppy whose personality and needs complement your household can make the transition even more rewarding. If you’re considering adding a Shih Tzu to your family, visit our Ready Pups page to meet puppies currently available through Divine Pups and learn more about finding the right companion for your home.
