New Baby With Dog
" How To Best Prepare & Introduce
Your Dog to Your New Baby"
After
welcoming a new baby into the world you're probably concerned about
how your dog is going to react to the new baby. A lot of people surrender
their dogs to shelters because of fear that the dog may harm the new
baby out of jealousy. Introducing your dog to your new baby is a process
that needs time and care to ensure a safe & happy welcoming process!
The steps to make sure your dog acts appropriately around the baby
comes in two main parts – preparing your dog for the baby's
arrival, and actually introducing your dog to your baby.
Preparing Your Dog:
Preparing
your dog for your baby’s arrival in advance is one of the best
ways to help avoid friction & jealousy between your baby and your
dog. Since your dog is used to your attention & pampering, some
jealousy will naturally occur when your new baby becomes the center
of attention. Taking a few precautions, and a few minutes of quality
time & some extra tasty treats can go a long way! Make sure you:
-
Take
your dog to the Veterinarian for a complete checkup a few months
before the baby arrives.
-
Worms & parasites can be harmful to your baby - be sure to worm
your dog before the baby arrives and also at the normal intervals
to stay on top of this problem.
-
If
your dog isn't already spayed/neutered, make sure to get it done
at this time.
-
Encourage friends that have a baby to visit your home to get your
dog used to babies. Make sure to supervise all dog & baby interactions.
-
Let
your dog
explore the baby’s sleeping, diaper changing areas, and other
related items such as lotions, baby powder, and diapers to become
familiar with the new smells & objects. For example, put baby
lotion or powder on your hands, and allow your dog to sniff the
new smell. Dogs rely on their sense of smell, so familiarity with
new baby smells will help your dog recognize the baby as a part
of the family.
-
Allow your dog to get used to baby-related noises months before
your baby is expected. For example, play sounds of a baby crying
- there are actually CDs out for this exact training purpose. Another
example is to turn on the mechanical infant swing, and use the rocking
chair. Make these positive experiences for your dog by offering
a tasty treat or playtime.
-
Do
NOT let your dog sleep on the baby’s furniture, or play with
the baby’s toys. Get toys for your dog that do not resemble
baby toys. You do not want your dog taking a toy from your baby’s
hand and unintentionallyhurtingthe baby.
-
If
the baby's room is going to be off-limits to your dog, install a
sturdy barrier such as a removable gate, or even a screen door for
jumpers. Since these barriers will still allow your dog to see and
hear what's going on in the room, your dog will feel less isolated
from the family & more comfortable with all the new baby noises.
-
You can even use a baby doll to help your dog get used to the real
baby. Carry around a baby doll, take the baby doll in the stroller
when walking your dog, and use the doll to get your dog used to
routine baby activities.
-
Finally,
and extremely importantly, make sure that your dog knows that you
& your family are alpha – this is extremely important
to make sure you can reprimand your dog if he/she should show any
signs of jealousy when the new baby is brought home.
Introducing Your Dog:
The
actual introduction of your dog to your newborn baby is very impotant
and the first couple meetings can usually show how your dog responds
to your new baby. It is very important for the introduction process
to go slowly & properly. Here
are some tips for the first meeting:
-
When
your new baby first comes home, have another person hold the baby
while you greet your dog. Your dog has missed you and its important
to pay attention to your dog when you first get home.
-
Greet your dog happily & bring him a new toy as a gift to associate
the new baby with something positive. Once your dog calms down,
you should start introducing your new baby to your dog.
-
If you aren't sure of you dog’s behavior, restrain or leash
him during the introduction. Talk to your dog, pet him, and encourage
him to get a good look and sniff the baby. Don't force a reluctant
dog by pushing the baby in front of the dog. Allow your dog to explore
all the new smells at their own pace. Never leave your baby unsupervised
with your dog. A baby is not able to push your dog away and your
dog might unintentially smother your baby. Your babys actions might
scare your dog and cause it to actually bite in self-defense. If
your dog acts agressive, put him in another room until hes calm
and try the introduction again.
-
After the initial introduction, you can bring your dog with you
to sit next to your baby. Reward your dog for appropriate behavior.
You want your dog to view associating with the baby as a positive
and rewarding experience. Remember, never force
your dog to get near your baby, and always supervise
any interaction.
-
Without a doubt life will be hectic caring for your new baby, but
try to maintain regular routines as to help your dog adjust. Also
make sure to spend quality time with your dog each day. With the
right supervision, dog training, and adjustments, you, your new baby, and your dog
should be able to live together safely as one happy family.
Learn More!
For
more information on dog training techniques and how to deal with dog behavior problems(like
accustoming your dog to children), check
this out. It’s the complete manual for dog ownership and
is designed to fast-track your dog’s learning.
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