Welcoming a new baby into the family is exciting. It can also be stressful, especially if you already have a dog. I hope you’ve spent the last few months preparing your dog for the baby’s arrival. Even if you haven’t thought about it until now, there are some things you can do to make the first meeting between your dog and your newborn go smoothly. None of these techniques are difficult, but be patient and consistent with your dog.
Bring the baby blanket home
After the baby is born, but before you bring the new family member home from the hospital, bring home a blanket or piece of clothing that the baby was wrapped in. Allow your dog to sniff and explore the blanket at his own pace. When you bring your newborn home, your dog should be quite familiar with the baby’s smell.
Bring your child home while the dog is out
Chances are, your pet will be very excited when its owner walks through the door with the new baby. Aside from the new pack of unfamiliar smells and sounds, the quadruped probably hasn’t seen «mom» in at least a day.
The dog should be excited when you walk in the door. Try asking someone to come home before you. Ask him to take the dog out for a long walk or to play so he can burn off excess energy. Wait until the child is sitting comfortably before bringing your dog to meet him.
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Allow the dog to say hello to mom first
Before bringing the dog into the same room as the baby, give him time to greet the new mother. If he walks in holding the baby, an excited dog might jump up to greet him. The first reaction could be to scold the dog for fear of harming the newborn. This can make presentations start off on the wrong foot. Instead, allow the dog to greet you before bringing the baby into the room.
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Maintain control of the dog
For the first meeting between the dog and the child, one person should hold the child while the other has control of the dog. Keep your dog on a leash while you take him to say hello. Don’t force the dog to approach the child, but be sure to praise him and encourage him to approach the child calmly.
If he gets too excited and pulls on the leash to run towards the child, the person holding the dog should get up and start again. Take a few small steps at a time and reward your dog when he walks slowly and stays calm.
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Tell your dog what you want
Instead of waiting to see if your furry friend will try to jump or meet the child too exuberantly or aggressively, explain to the dog how you expect him to behave. When your dog approaches the child, give him a command, such as «down» or «sit.» Reward the dog with praise or treats for doing what he was told. Often, your dog just needs your guidance to learn how to behave well with a child.
Maintain your dog’s schedule
One of the reasons many dogs misbehave when a newborn is brought home is because they are stressed by all the changes happening in the home. You can greatly reduce your dog’s stress by simply sticking to his regular schedule.
Try to make sure the pet is fed and walked on the same schedule it always did before the baby came home. It can be difficult trying to juggle your dog’s schedule with that of a newborn, but it will be worth it when your dog and baby develop a positive relationship. Help from friends and family can make things go more smoothly.
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Never leave a dog or child unattended
We cannot stress this point enough. Don’t put your child and dog in a bad position by leaving them alone together. Accidents can happen to even the best-trained dogs. Prevent accidents by never leaving your child unattended in the room with the dog.
Problems and behavior verification
A common mistake is expecting your pet to love your child as much as you do. Give your dog time. The baby (along with visitors, new routine, etc.) represents a big change for your dog. If you feel like your dog is behaving particularly aggressively towards you or your child, talk to your vet as soon as possible. This is an inconvenient (and potentially dangerous) situation that you want to resolve quickly.
When your dog reacts too exuberantly when first introduced to the new baby, try to resist the temptation to scold him or give him a leash correction. You don’t want your furry friend to associate the baby with something negative. Instead, use some treats to lure the dog away from the child, give him some attention and time to calm down, then bring him back to try again.
Keep some treats on hand for the first few days after bringing your baby home. Try to remember to give your dog treats and praise whenever he remains calm and well-behaved with the child. This will teach your dog that having the baby around means good things are happening.
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