Introducing Family Dog To New Baby
After
welcoming a baby in to the world you are probably
concerned about how your dog is going to react to
him or her. Many people surrender their pets to shelters
because of exhibited jealousy from their dog after
a new baby’s arrival and fear of the infant
being harmed by the animal. Yet many families have
been successful in introducing their dogs to the new
baby. Introducing your dog to you baby is a process
that needs time and the utmost of care to ensure a
happy and safe welcoming process! The steps to ensuring
your dog acts appropriately around the baby when he
or she is finally taken back to your home are twofold
usually – preparing your dog for the infants
arrival and introducing your dog to your infant.
Preparing your dog:
Preparing your dog for the baby’s arrival in
advance is one of the best ways to help avoid friction
and jealousy between your baby and your dog. Your
dog is used to your attention and pampering, some
jealousy will naturally surface when your new baby
becomes the center of attention. Taking some precautions,
a few minutes of quality time and some extra treats
can go a long way! Be sure to:
• Take your dog to your local Veterinarian for
a complete checkup a few months before the baby arrives.
• Worms and parasites can be harmful to your
baby so be sure to worm your dog before the baby arrives
and at the normal intervals to keep on top of this
problem. If your dog is not spayed or neutered, this
is also the time to get it done.
• Encourage friends with infants to visit your
home to accustom your pet to babies. Supervise all
pet and infant interactions.
• Allow your dog to explore the baby’s
sleeping, diaper changing areas, and related items
such as baby powder, lotions, and diapers to become
familiar with the new smells and objects. Apply baby
lotion or powder to your hands, for example, and allow
your dog to sniff the new smell. Dogs rely on their
sense of smell, so familiarity with the new baby smells
will help him or her recognize the baby as a part
of the family. If possible, allow your dog to smell
clothing that your baby has used before you bring
the baby home.
• Accustom your pet to baby-related noises months
before the baby is expected. For example, play recordings
of a baby crying (there are CDs out now for this exact
training purpose – (see www.soundtherapy4pets.com/
for CDs with baby noises), turn on the mechanical
infant swing, and use the rocking chair. Make these
positive experiences for your pet by offering a treat
or playtime.
• Do not allow your dog to sleep on the baby’s
furniture or play with the baby’s toys. Your
dog should know that the furniture is not for him
or her and should treat it as such. Provide toys for
the dog that do not resemble baby toys. A dog may
take the toy from the baby’s hand and unintentionally
injure the infant.
• If the baby's room will be off-limits to your
pet, install a sturdy barrier such as a removable
gate (available at pet or baby supply stores) or,
for jumpers, even a screen door. Because these barriers
still allow your dog to see and hear what's happening
in the room, your dog will feel less isolated from
the family and more comfortable with the new baby
noises.
• Use a baby doll to help your pet get used
to the real thing. Carry around a swaddled baby doll,
take the doll in the stroller when you walk your dog,
and use the doll to get your pet used to routine baby
activities, such as bathing and diaper changing.
• Finally and very importantly, be sure that
your dog knows that you and your family are alpha
over him or her – this is crucial to ensure
you can reprimand your dog should any jealous signs
show when the baby is brought home.
Introducing your dog to your infant:
The actual introduction of your dog to your newborn
baby is of utmost importance and the first few meetings
can often dictate how your dog responds to your baby
in an ongoing basis. For this reason, it is crucial
to undertake the introduction process slowly and properly.
Tips for the first meeting include:
• When the baby comes home, another person should
hold the baby while you greet your dog. Your dog has
missed you and it is important to pay attention to
him or her when you first get home.
• Greet your dog happily and bring him or her
a new toy as a gift to associate the baby with something
positive. After your dog’s excitement about
your homecoming has dissipated you should start introducing
your baby to the dog.
• If you are unsure of you dog’s behavior,
leash or restrain him or her during the introduction.
Talk to your dog, pet and encourage him or her to
get a good look and sniff the baby’s hands and
feet. Do not force a reluctant dog by pushing the
infant in front of the pet. Allow the pet to explore
the new smells at their own pace. Never leave your
baby unsupervised with your pet. An infant is incapable
of pushing the animal away and your dog may inadvertently
smother the child. The actions of a baby may scare
your dog and cause it to bite in self-defense. If
your dog reacts aggressively, put him or her in another
room until it is calm and try the introduction again.
• After the initial greeting, you can bring
your pet with you to sit next to the baby; reward
your pet with treats for appropriate behavior. Remember,
you want your pet to view associating with the baby
as a positive experience. Again, to prevent anxiety
or injury, never force your pet to get near the baby,
and always supervise any interaction.
• Life will no doubt be hectic caring for your
new baby, but try to maintain regular routines as
much as possible to help your pet adjust. And be sure
to spend one-on-one quality time with your pet each
day—it may help relax you, too. With proper
training, supervision, and adjustments, you, your
new baby, and your pet should be able to live together
safely and happily as one (now larger) family.
For more information on dog training techniques and
how to deal with problem dog behavior (like accustoming
your dog to children), check out Secrets To
Dog Training. It’s the complete manual
for dog ownership and is designed to fast-track your
dog’s learning.
You can visit the Secrets To Dog Training
by clicking on the link below:
Visit
Secrets To Dog Training
|