Introducing Your New Born Baby To The Family Dog

Before Baby Is Born.

People love their pets. And in many homes, your dog will have been considered like another member of the family. So much so, that little thought may have been given to what to do when your new baby comes home for the first time. But, before you do bring the baby home from the maternity unit, there are a number of things which you should do, to help prepare your dog/dogs, enabling them to  adjust to the new arrival in the family.

First and foremost you must remember that dogs automatically assume positions within the family unit (pack), to your dog, you, the dogs master, are the dominant member. However you must bear in mind that dogs will instinctively respond to any new arrivals within "their pack", and be inquisitive, and possible jealous. Because the baby is defenseless, your dog will quickly realize they can, if not checked, dominate your baby. This is potentially dangerous, because a jealous dog, will try to retain their, hitherto position, in the pack(family), as your favourite.

Preparation should begin well before the baby is born.

Any changes to your pets routine must be implemented and become established before you give birth to the baby. This will ensure that when you do introduce your baby, your dog will not notice any changes to their normal daily activity caused by the new arrival.  At the same time begin introducing your pet to various items related to the future home-coming of the baby. When you put things in the nursery, let your dog smell these items. Don't shut the dog out, from the changes taking place.

Once the baby is born, get your partner/husband to bring home something which your newborn baby has worn and allow your dog to smell this, also put it together with an item of clothing which 'mum to be' has worn during labour, so that your dog associates the scent of baby and mum together, with the familiar scent of one of his master's.

On the day that you bring baby home for the first time, make sure you walk your pet, before collecting your wife/partner and baby from the unit. If possible, also take your dog in the car with you, when you go to the maternity unit, assuming you have a dog grill already fitted into your car. (Put it on your to do list, if not.)

When you come out of the maternity hospital to the car, ensure that baby's father or another family member carries baby, whilst you greet your family pet, this will do two things, pass onto the dog your combined 'mother and baby scent, and it will reassure him/her that they remain special.  Do spend a few minutes stroking and making a general fuss of the hound,  letting them know how much you have missed them. Then, when you arrive home, Dad should carry the baby into the house,in front of your dog/dogs, he being the 'master/leader' of the pack. This will remind your pet that his master remains leader, and also that baby is above your pet in the 'pack hierarchy'. Very important, to establish this at the outset. Then new mum should bring the pet inside with her.

To continue helping your dog to adjust, it is recommended that you always keep the baby higher than the dog/dogs, both physically and psychologically.

Naturally your pet will want to sniff around the little one when you are cuddling baby, and that is perfectly natural and normal. But,never leave the baby alone with the dog, not even for a couple of minutes.  Do not put your baby towards your pet, rather allow them to come to you and baby when they are ready to do so.  It is also a good idea, once baby is settled in their crib or pram, to stop, and make an extra fuss of  of your dog, with your little one safe and within view , so your hound is reassured you are not forgetting them.

I found with my Great Dane, it was best to let him indicate that my little one needed attention, by this I mean, if my baby started to cry, although I was aware of it, I would wait a couple of minutes for my dog to walk over to the baby monitor, and basically draw my attention to my baby crying,  once he had done this, I would thank him  making a big fuss of him, so my hound felt involved with the baby care. I also put a used baby grow into his dog-bed, thus continuing to introduce the baby's scent into his environment.

When I started to go out with my baby in the pram, I made sure that the dog walked beside me, but the lead was attached to the side of the pram. This again reminds the dog of his place in the 'pack hierarchy'  of the family, reinforcing the fact that  he is now lower down in the family (pack) hierarchy,  the dog must follow the pram, behind and below the level of baby. This reinforcement of your baby's position in relationship to your dog, is very important.  You are in effect indicating that your baby has the right to dominate your pet.  Of course when you stop to go shopping do not leave baby outside in the pram, with your dog attached.

Try to maintain the same doggy routine you had established before giving birth, so that your pet does not feel as if baby has usurped him in your affections. The less change the animal experiences the better and quicker the adjustment will be.

Finally,always remember, your dog had your full undivided attention, before baby arrived, so to avoid jealous threatening behaviour you really must be prepared to give your pet one on one time, as well as their usual exercise, that way your pet will have less reason to resent the new arrival, and be happy to share in the joy of your little baby. Good luck!