In a few days our GSD puppy will be 11 weeks and will have been with us for 2 weeks. She is settling in nicely to our family. She still gets all excited when my husband comes home - we just crate her until she calms down and then she can come back out again.

My kids (12 and 14) whom the puppy will meet for the first time are coming home from camp this weekend. I'm wondering how to introduce them.

I've watched the pack structure video. I have done most everything for the puppy establishing myself as the pack leader. My husband "mostly" does a nice job of not interacting with the dog unless I need help. This week he has stepped in a little more and helped with some of the outside breaks and outside exercise time. This weekend he will have total care of her though, since I will be gone picking up our kids.

Should my kids ignore the puppy at first and ease into this? Or was that just needed in the initial phase of establishing pack structure? I know this should progress slowly, but will next week be too early to have them help with the feedings with me present, like on video? Can one of them come along on our "walks" or outside time? Even though they are older, my kids will never be unsupervised with the puppy.

While I will be the pack leader, I clearly want this dog interacting with my kids as a companion. We have no plans of competing. My son, the 12 year old, is greatly interested in helping in any way possible and would really like to help in obedience training down the road.

Our 8 year old golden is clearly MY dog. She is a joy for all of us, but truly only listens to me and maybe my son. To the best of my ability, I'm trying to foster a more family companion dog this time. I tended to keep a lot of separation with the golden. This time I want them involved, but at the right time and right amount. Suggestions?

This isn't the usual situation.

Generally we read about the dog coming to his new home with children already in residence, or a new baby coming home to a house-with-dog.

Has the puppy met any child yet? Also, how is the puppy when anyone else comes into your house?

I am asking this while waffling between crating and leashing the puppy for the arrival of the children.

But I admit that this isn't the usual question about children/new puppy, so I'm mulling it over.

Others will pop on too, though.

Calling puppy experts!

What would the dog do if you brought it to pick up the kids?

 Quote: Jenni Williams

What would the dog do if you brought it to pick up the kids?

Yeah, that was another thing that crossed my mind. Also, wondering if the puppy has been in their rooms and/or near their stuff yet.

Not really an option. I'm flying back east to get them and it's a pretty hectic schedule as I rent a car and travel all over New England to get them! And talk about lots of people and kids all probably wanting to pet my new puppy. She's pretty excitable with new people - not sure that would be good.

I know it's not the typical situation. They are coming 'home' to meet her for the first time, but to her they are entering her new 'home'.

She is very excited when my husband gets home - no aggression or shying away if that's what you are getting at . She was very receptive to several of my neighbors who I asked not to pet her yet - maybe in a few months.

Sounds like a leash will do it.

Have the kids been around dogs before?

She has been in both of their rooms several times sniffing around. I've had both of their pillows out a few times for her to sniff.

They've been around LOTS of dogs between both sides of the family and we have an 8 year old golden they both play with without any problems. Plus they will both be extremely excited - been talking about this for months now - but can be persuaded to tone it down for a while.

Well, this sounds good to me. Do they know about not leaning over, staring, hovering, etc.? Just casually and calmly be there for a while, and even better to let the dog come to them, sniffing out of curiosity as she sees that there is no threat?

This is how I always intro myself (even to a dog I will be taking home).

Again, though, I'm not a puppy expert.

I hope that the Marker and Basic Ob videos (and the one you already have) can gradually be watched by the family together.