Dont Give Up But Know When Enough Is Enough
Your dog is a member of your family just as much as your new baby is, but once in a blue moon, things just dont gel the way we would like them to. If you have worked rigorously with your dog on their obedience and training, and you have consulted a professional dog trainer or canine behaviorist and are still facing dangerous behavior from your dog, know when it’s time to get your priorities straight.
Many new parents give up before even trying to work with their dog on assimilating to life with a newborn baby this is not what we’re talking about here. Give a dog a real chance to adjust to their new life with a baby in the home. Only when you have exhausted all possibilities should you contact a local rescue for assistance in re-homing a dog because of a failure to adjust .
Take It One Day At A Time
Having a baby is not just new to you. It is also the same for your dog.
It is up to you to create learning cues on how to teach a dog to be gentle with babies. You can start by always involving your dog in the babys activities. For instance, have your dog slowly come over and sit with you when youre holding your baby.
Talk to your dog and when you see it being gentle with your newborn, give it a treat.
If your dog is still learning to control itself around your baby, use positive reinforcement and encourage the effort. Soon, your dog will know how to adapt to a baby in the house.
You know your dog better than anybody, so make changes as you see fit.
Bring Home Receiving Blankets Or Onesies Your Baby Has Worn Prior To Discharge
One of the most popular and well-known ways to introduce your fur baby to your new baby is to bring home your little ones receiving blanket or first outfit. Doing so will help your pet become familiar with the infants scent prior to their first introduction.
So youve done the prep work, you feel like youre ready, but what about when you actually bring your brand new baby home for the first time?
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Preparing Your Dog For Your Baby’s Arrival
You can start doing several things a few months out to help acclimate your pup to a new baby in the house. Plus, keep in mind that you need to help your dog adjust to the baby and everything that goes along with it. Your pal’s about to be bombarded with all sorts of weird and curious items, like baby swings, strollers, and smelly diapers.
Here are a few ways to prep your dog for baby life.
First Steps In Preparation
You have about 9 months to prepare your dog. View this time before your babys arrival as an investment in your peace of mind later. A drastic change in the amount of time you spend with your dog can cause jealousy and depression. These can lead to behavioral problems in pets. Weaning your dog away from undivided attention slowly can help them adapt more easily when introducing your dog to your baby.
Of course, many expectant parents choose to bring home a new puppy at the same time as a new baby. This is so the newly-borns can grow up together and make memories of a lifetime. If that is true in your case, then your first steps will surely include pet-proofing your home. .
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If Possible Hire A Professional Trainer Asap
If your dog hides from the baby, growls at the baby, or shows other clear signs of discomfort with your baby around, you must hire a reputable dog trainer and be ready for some hard work, or consider rehoming your dog. In my professional opinion, this is non-negotiable. Look at Dogs and Storks or search for certified dog behavior consultants in your area.
I get it. Hiring a professional dog trainer is not cheap, and PetSmart group obedience classes are not going to cut it in this case. However, ignoring your dogs unfavorable reaction to your baby is not a solution and the problem is not going to go away on its own.
You might be able to get by with a dog who dislikes the cat by splitting your house up. You can navigate a neighborhood full of unfriendly dogs if youre careful. But its nearly impossible to successfully manage a household where the dog and the baby dont get along without serious professional help.
If you can afford it, hiring a professional, in-home, experienced, and positive-reinforcement based trainer is your best option. Ask your trainer if they adhere to Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive training methodologies and if they have experience specifically with dogs and babies.
But what if you cant afford it?
Ultimately, if working with a trainer isnt an option, then its time to seriously consider rehoming your dog.
Upon Arriving Home And After Give Some Attention To Your Dog
With newborns and dogs in the same house, you will also have to practice dog/baby-related activities. This involves sharing the experience with your dog while your attention is on the baby. In one situation, while you change a diaper, you can talk to both your baby and dog. If youre preparing a mealshare some love with your dog as well. The attention and care shared in these situations will transform your newborn in your dogs eyes from a stranger to their best friend.
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Three Months Before Your Due Date:
Actively prep your pup for his future “sibling.” Though it may seem loony, get a doll and treat it as you will your infant. Carry it around at home, coo to it, and tote it in the baby carrier. Set up the bassinet, crib, and swing, and then have the doll “use” them.
“You want the dog to become familiar with these items now, not when your baby is in them,” says Betsy Saul, cofounder of PetFinder.com, an online pet-search site. Let your hound investigate everything the way he does bestby sniffing. “And introduce him to smells like baby lotion and powder,” Saul says.
Practice walking your mutt while you’re pushing your future baby’s wheels. “Your neighbors may be puzzled, but this will help your dog get used to the stroller,” Saul says. Be sure not to loop the leash onto the stroller handle. If your furry friend happens to see a squirrel or another canine buddy, he might jerk the leashdangerous when there’s a baby tucked in the stroller!
Forget the adage “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Try the “back” cue, which is an important skill for helping your pup learn about personal space, Stilwell says. Standing directly in front of your pooch, say “back” and hold out your hand as you shuffle toward him. He’ll naturally back up, and then you can reward him with a treat, such as praise, a pat on the head, or a small biscuit. Practice this cue throughout the next few months, gradually eliminating your forward movement, so you only have to lift your hand and say “back.”
Why Do Dogs Need To Adjust To Changes
There are a few reasons dogs need more time to adjust to changes in your home. Dogs typically have a set routine. Likely, all of that will change once the baby arrives. A new routine, along with new sounds and smells could be upsetting to your dog. Thats why its essential to take the time to prepare your dog for a new baby.
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Set Aside Time For Your Dogs
Babies are time consuming. They need you for everything, pretty much all the time, especially in the beginning. If this is your first baby, your dogs are probably used to getting all of that attention. Now that your baby is home, your dogs are probably feeling a little ignored.. and bored. Do your best to set aside some time just for them.
When my daughter takes a nap during the day, I take the baby monitor outside with me and play outside with the dogs. Now that hes getting a little older, we have started taking him and the dogs on hikes together as well. Short ones, but its been so great to get everyone out together. As he continues to grow, the adventures will get longer and the dogs will get more and more exercise. For now, Im grateful that theyve been so patient and well behaved, even without the crazy hikes that theyre used to.
Get Your Dog Used To Baby Sounds And Scents
As Lugones explains, dogs have an incredible sense of smell, so it can be super beneficial to give them a ‘sneak-sniff’ into what their new brother or sister will smell like. “Start using the baby shampoos, conditioners, soaps, powders, and laundry detergent on yourself and your family that you’ll be using on your baby,” she says. “Your dog will get accustomed to the scents, so when your baby arrives, they’ll already have a scent that’s familiar to your dog, which will be one less thing they have to get used to.”
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Rehoming Your Dog: Sometimes Its The Only Option
This is a situation that far too many families face. Please remember that you are not alone, and you are not a failure if your dog and your baby dont mesh well together. Some dogs are not well-suited to homes with babies, and some babies are more challenging than others.
Giving up your dog does not mean youre failing her. In some cases, making the decision to find a new home for your dog is actually better for your dog than keeping her in your home. Try to be honest with yourself about, and ask these three questions:
Lets look at a past client of mine as an example Charlie.
Charlie was a big, bright-eyed, flat coated retriever. He loved guests so much that hed jump on them, pulling at their clothes with his claws. He was big, and it hurt. Charlie stole toys and didnt give them back, and he barked. He barked a lot.
Charlies parents called me when they were at the end of their ropes becauseCharlie was starting to knock their son over, steal his toys, and bark constantly during their sons naptime. The baby was getting no sleep and was starting to be scared of Charlie.
Charlies family decided that Charlies ideal life included a lot of exercise, playtime with his best friends, a structured relaxation time, and a backyard.
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What To Do With A Dog After Bringing A Baby Home
Research how to introduce dogs to a new baby and the same advice will emerge, over and over: take it slow. This advice is especially important for first-time parents: up until this point, the only interaction a dog has had is with adult humans, who wont be injured if play becomes rambunctious or if he jumps up. The fragile nature of a newborn is completely alien to him, so hell need lots of guidance to get through it properly.
The most important rule of introducing dogs to babies is to never, ever leave a child alone with a dog. No matter how harmless the infant may be or how gentle the dog is, accidents happen and defensive instinct can look a lot like aggression.
If, for example, a dog leans into a carrier and the baby grasps and squeezes his ear, he may snarl and nip at the offending hand. This is how a dog says Hey, thats enough! to his pack mates, but even a warning nip can be extremely dangerous to an infant. He may not mean to hurt the baby, and he may only be defending himself, but the negative results will be the same. Experts recommend that an adult remain between the dog and child at all times, and that the baby be higher than the dog so it can be immediately lifted up and removed if theres an issue.
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The Bottom Line: Reward Your Dog For Staying Calm
At its core, a dog-child introduction should go slow and steady. The speed of dog-child integrations will vary based on your dogs comfort level with a baby. Luckily for new parents, introducing a dog to a newborn is relatively easy due to the newborns relative helplessness.
Reward your dog for calmly tolerating changes in the babys behavior and movement, and keep your dog and baby separate when theyre unsupervised. Thats really it but this can be easier said than done.
Melody R Conklin Vmd Mba
Dr. Melody R. Conklin is originally from Youngsville in northwestern Pennsylvania and earned her BS at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park in 2003, where she majored in Animal BioScience and minored in Wildlife and Fisheries Science. She then attended the University of Pennsylvania, earning her VMD in 2007. Dr. Conklin worked in companion animal general practice until 2015 when she joined Zoetis Veterinary Medical Information and Product Support department while finishing her MBA at Penn State Great Valley in 2017. Dr. Conklin currently works full-time in a companion animal practice while working with Zoetis US Petcare Medical Affairs in a consultant role. She lives in Sinking Spring, PA with her 4 cats, Vegeta, Fluffzor, Poof, & Butter, and 3 guinea pigs, Pascha, Elena, & Caroline.
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If You Have A Dog Crate Gate And Rotate
This should be our mantra when it comes to babies and dogs, Alonso said. With a larger, pushy dog, a crate will be your best friend. Get a dog used to a crate, and make it the best place in the world, Alonso said. Put in mashed potato-filled Kongs or special treats that they only get when in the crate. Through a wire-ventilated crate, a dog can still interact with the family. Or, for the crate-averse, separate babies and dogs with a baby gate. Then, switch it up. Put the baby in a pack-and-play and spend some quality time with the dog. Everyone is safe and gets a turn for attention. And, when distracted or in doubt, separate. Its important to remember that you can provide both your dog and your child with the love they both need, but not necessarily in the same place at the same time, Alonso said.
Elizabeth Greenwood, whose work has appeared in O, the Oprah Magazine,Longreads and Glamour, is the author of Playing Dead: A Journey Through the World of Death Fraud.
Teach Your Child To Respect Your Dog
As your child develops, teach him to respect your dogs body, safe zones and belongings. Always supervise interactions so that you can guide your child as he learns to communicate and play with your dog appropriately. Playing an active role in the development of a relationship between your child and your dog will benefit everyone.
Show your child what gentle, enjoyable petting looks like. Teach him to stoke and scratch your dog in her favorite spots. Explain that hitting, kicking or pinching dogs, as well as riding, teasing and intentionally scaring them are NOT okay.
Teach your child to play structured games with your dog, like fetch, tug-of war and hide-and-seek. Training games, trick training and clicker training are also a lot of fun for both kids and dogs.
Enroll your dog in obedience classes with an instructor who welcomes children so that your child can learn to be with his dog in a gentle, effective way. When your child gives your dog cues, be sure to back him up. For instance, if your child says Sit and your dog complies, help your child praise her like crazy and hand him a treat to give her! If he says Sit and she hesitates, immediately repeat Sit. If you do this consistently, your dog will learn that every time your child requests a behavior, you will tooso she might as well respond to your child and earn a reward more quickly.
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Prep A Dog Meets Baby Kit
There are a few supplies that can help you transition into dog and baby life. But you undoubtedly dont want to be scrambling to get it all together after your babys made their grand entrance. After all, youll be functioning on zero hours of sleep and trying to learn your babys cries and coos.Therefore, prepare your supplies ahead of time. The sooner, the better, because the closer your due date gets, the busier life will become. Make sure to have plenty of your pups favorite treats for rewarding desired behavior and some calming sprays or diffusers like Adaptil. You should also have some interactive toys that can help keep your pooch distracted and calm, like the Rolly Cannoli. Lick mats are another great way to help your dog cope with a stressful situation, as licking helps release endorphins which can calm down your pet.
Finding The Right Pet
For parents considering adding a pet to their family, choosing the right fit is essential. Although a new puppy or kitten is adorable, they are also a lot of work and may not be the right fit for a busy family that does not have enough time for training and socialization. Working with a well-informed rescue or adoption agency and your veterinarian is a great way to find a pet that will be best suited to your familys needs and lifestyle. Be sure to look for a pet that is comfortable around children and introduce your new friend to the family gradually to reduce the risk of conflicts. With patience and lots of positive reinforcement, your new furry friend will soon be part of the family!
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