Introducing puppy to kids & neighbor's dog

[marimama]

We are adopting an Irish terrier boy puppy in about 3-4 weeks. It will be our first dog, so I'm researching like mad. I have two questions I'm hoping you experienced dog lovers can help with...

1. Advice for introducing tbe puppy to my 5 y.o DS and 21-month DD? They are generally great/respectful with dogs, not hysterical or grabby with dogs of friends/family. But this will be OUR dog and want the relationship to start right.
   

1. We share a garden with our neighbors' year-old male german shepherd mix puppy. He's sweet--but I want to make sure these two dogs can coexist in the garden...
   

Thanks in advance for suggestions!

[marimama]

Should add...puppy will be about 10 weeks when we pick him up from the breeder. He will have been raised so far by a lovely breeder in a house with a few other dogs.

[BirdyArms]

I'm not hugely experienced but have a 14wk puppy and older kids. Is the puppy used to children already? I would instruct your 5 year old to keep still and quiet when you introduce them and keep younger child on your lap. The puppy is likely to be nervous too. Just encourage them to let the puppy sniff a closed hand and stroke him gently on the back. From experience with my pup and 7 year old I think you would need to supervise all interactions between the pup and children very closely. Our puppy was very bitey initially, it was quite difficult to interact with him at all without him chewing us and if your children shriek when it happens, as they inevitably will, the puppy will get excited and bite more. You need to have somewhere you can put the puppy away from the kids.

Can't really advise on the puppy in the garden except to say don't let them establish any behaviour that you don't want them to continue. I'm sure someone with more experience can give you some tips.