Introducing Dog to Baby
Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 1:14PM Preparing for a new arrival is one of the most exciting times – exciting, stressful and loaded with things that need to get done on a deadline. While you are putting finishing touching on the nursery and planning the baby shower, give some thought to the level of your dog’s training.
ONE: REGRESSION
Anytime a dog experiences a big change; a move, the death of a family member, the addition or birth of a new family member, he will experience stress. This stress often causes the dog to regress in his training. Often, house breaking is the first skill to go, so don’t be surprised after bringing baby home, if your dog has an accident or two of his own. If handled correctly, this will be a temporary set back.
All you need to do is go back to when your dog was a puppy. Dust off your crate and put your dog back on a schedule. The familiar routine will help with more then just house breaking. For those first few chaotic weeks, a routine should put your dog at ease and back in familiar surroundings when all hell is breaking looses around him.
Of course, that does NOT mean banish the dog to his crate because that is convenient. Put the dog on a reliable schedule. Start a few weeks before baby comes. Have designated meal times and times for walks and exercise. Get your dog used to calling crate “home” again for a little while.
TWO: TRAINING
If your dog’s obedience is lacking now is the time to go back to school! When it comes to dog/baby interaction there is a short list of commands that your dog should respond to immediately and without question.
OFF – if your dog is jumping on anyone or anything he shouldn’t (like you while you are holding baby), he needs to learn off.
LEAVE IT – if you dog picks things up or puts his mouth in things he shouldn’t (like diapers, toys, blankets, your baby…)
PLACE – being able to reliably park your dog in a spot (and have him stay there) is extremely valuable when people come over, or when your walking around with baby or whenever you need the dog to not be under foot.
COME – a reliable recall is always important.
THREE: PREPARATION
As soon as you have your baby stuff set up, arrange the house as if baby was already home. Set up the swing and pack in play in the living room and the bassinet in the bedroom. Spend time standing by the changing table. Put tempting garbage in the diaper pail. In a word, live as if the baby is already a part of your lives. That way, your dog can get used to all the stuff that your baby will come with. This is minimize the impact of this life change on your dog.
Another important consideration is traveling with dog and baby. Set up your car seat and figure out where the dog will ride when you are all in the car together.
Talk together as a family about how much access you will allow the dog to the baby and when. Will you let the dog in the baby’s room, for instance? Will you allow the dog to lick baby’s toes but not the face? Keep the dog away until the baby is X number of weeks old? This is not a time to stress too much! If you and your partner disagree on how to handle dog/ baby interactions, call in a professional to mediate. We are more then happy to help, as we have been there and can relate!
You can choose to bring home a blanket or other item for your dog to smell, but that may not be necessary. If a dog can smell a minute amount of narcotics in a barrel of gasoline, the dog can small your baby in utero. Have you noticed your dog spending more time sniffing your tummy? Depending on your comfort level, you may want to let fido get used to baby’s sent long before the big B-Day.
Some new parents have had success with a prerecorded CD of baby sounds to get the dog used to crying, cooing, laughing and other interesting sounds your baby will make. This may be helpful to de-stress your pup.
FOUR: GET HELP IF YOU NEED IT
Employ friends and family to give special attention to your dog. Schedule people to come, feed, walk and play with your dog. You may want to have your dog stay with a friend or a boarding facility while you are in the hospital, but it is my professional opinion to not board the dog during your baby’s home coming. Coming home after a stay away and finding baby in the home may exacerbate the dog’s stress level. It’s better to have extra hands come and take care of the dog, but let him stay home. It IS however, a good idea to have someone on call to take care of the dog should you unexpectedly go into labor. If no one is available, set up professional services for any of your dog sitting needs.
Congrats mom and dad. The best is yet to come!
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