Bringing Home a Baby to your Dog

Here are some tips to help families ensure a smooth transition for their dog when bringing home a new baby. If you are expecting a baby and you have a dog, take time now to prepare your dog for the day you bring home your new child.

Dogs can feel rejected and become confused or stressed when parents suddenly shift their attention from dog to baby. A dog doesn't understand why a baby is being elevated above the dog in the pack. In trying to regain his pack position, the dog may seek attention through behaviors such as barking at the babys cries, jumping up, or chewing on babys things.

The following tips will help reduce bad behavior, ease everyone's stress, and help keep baby safe. 

Set new rules before baby arrives. For instance, if you decide to keep your dog out of the babys room, start this new rule several weeks or months before the baby arrives. Thus, your dog will not associate babys arrival with exclusion from the room. Also, begin to introduce an erratic schedule so the dog does not know when he will get walked, fed or played with.

Prepare your dog for baby's arrival. Accustom your dog to the new sights and smells he will soon encounter. An easy way to do this is to buy an inexpensive doll that makes baby sounds. Wrap it in a blanket and hold it in your arms as you walk around the house. Apply to the doll the same baby products (powder, shampoo, lotion) that you will use on the baby. After the baby is born, bring home the newborns blanket prior to your baby's arrival home to allow your dog to become accustomed to the scent of the newest member of the family.

Make introductions on the first day the baby arrives home. Your dog will need to touch scent the baby to find out what it is. While another adult controls the dog on a loosely held leash, hold your newborn up high and let your dog sniff the babys bottom or feet. If the dog misbehaves or is too exuberant, correct his behavior. 

Allow frequent, supervised visits by your dog. The more the dog and baby are together, the better behaved and less stressed your dog will be. However, neither newborn nor toddler should ever be left unattended in the same room with any dog.

Teach your dog the difference between his toys and your childs things.

If and only if you catch your dog chewing on something unsuitable, interrupt the behavior, then give the dog an acceptable chew toy and praise him lavishly when he takes it in his mouth.

Dogs can be possessive about their food, toys and space. Although this is normal, it is NOT acceptable for him to growl or snap at you or your child. At the same time, children need to learn to respect their dog as a living creature that is not to be teased or purposefully hurt, and that needs time to himself. If your dog is growling or snapping at your child for any reason, the situation needs IMMEDIATE attention.