your dog & your baby

​how to prepare your dog for your newborn

If you already have a fur baby at home and are just 'hoping for the best' when it comes to bringing home your new baby, implement these steps beforehand for a smooth transition for everyone. 

Before baby arrives

1.  Make changes to your dog’s environment now.  If you're planning to move where your dog sleeps, eats, rests or hangs out don’t wait until your baby arrives as your pet may associate this (potentially unwanted) change with the arrival of their new sibling.  If you’re going to use baby gates to separate the dog from baby, do that now and spend time at home with your dog on one side and you on the other.
2. Introduce associate sounds. You’d be surprised how some dogs react to the sound if it’s completely alien to them. There's a track here: http://www.soundjay.com/baby-crying-sound-effect.html  I just played it now and my 4-year-old old Labrador who is well and truly used to excited screeching, high pitched squeaking and crying from my toddler, tweaked his head to the side and looked at me with wide, wild eyes, pricked up ears and said ‘oh no...not another one?!’
3. Practice one-handed.  Once your newborn is home, you’ll get adept at doing things one-handed, start now with your pet by giving commands and affection one-handed.
4. Borrow a doll or teddy from someone and hold it in one arm while you give commands to your dog (e.g. sit, wait, come etc).  NEVER offer the doll out to the dog to see what it will do.  You would never do this with a baby so don’t do it with a doll. 
5. Practice walking the dog with a pram or baby carrier (whichever you plan to use) as the wheels and noises of a pram can be disconcerting. Never tie the lead to the pram in case your dog is startled and does a runner or pulls the pram over.  Instead loop the lead over your hand and then hold the pram or clip the lead onto your belt buckle.
6. Sort out the toys.  If your dog has fluffy toys it is wise to either: put the fluffy toys away so that there will be a clear distinction between your dog’s toys and baby’s toys.  Or if you don’t want to get rid of your dog’s fluffy toys, introduce some of the baby’s fluffy toys to the dog but don’t allow the dog to play with them.  Get your dog a 'toy box' and keep all the dog toys in that box so there's a clear distinction. 
7. Pamper your pooch.  Get everything done that you need to before bub arrives e.g. buy dog food in bulk, ensure vet checks are up to date, registration is paid, grooming is done and flea, tick and worm treatments are sorted. 

Bringing baby home

1. Work out who will care for your dog if you have to make a midnight hospital trip and might not be home for 24 hours.
2. Introduce baby’s smells first.  If you can, have someone take a pooey nappy, spewed on clothes and/or just a blanket or something that smells of the baby to the dog.  Wait until the dog is calm and sitting, or lying down and then offer the nappy or clothes to the dog to sniff.  Allow sniffing and then put the items away. Bring them out again after a couple of hours and allow the dog to sniff again.  This way, your pooch will already be familiar with the new baby’s smells and scent when he or she arrives home.
3. The first meeting.  Your pooch is going to be ultra-excited to see you so here’s the plan for coming home;

• If possible, have someone walk/exercise your dog to let them release some energy/excitement before you get home.
• Mums, greet your dog first (without the baby) and show them some love.
• Wait until the dog is calm before bringing the baby into the house if possible.
• Bring the baby inside and calmly sit down on the couch or chair.  If the dog pays you or the baby no attention, that’s fine, allow the dog space.
• Ensure the dog gives you and the baby respectful space (no licking, jumping, barking).  This may be enough for your dog for one day.
• If your dog is calm and a bit curious, you can allow some gentle sniffing of the air around the baby, or of the baby’s feet if  you feel comfortable doing so.  NB. Introduce your newborn to your dog slowly, calmly and safely.  Reward good behaviour with affection.
• Never offer the baby to your dog to sniff or lick, don’t force the baby on your dog if your dog is indifferent, don’t kneel down with the baby on the dog’s level.  Just sit on the couch with your baby and allow gentle, respectful sniffing on your terms.
• If your dog shows any signs of aggression (baring teeth, ears back with tail between legs, growling, backing away, raising back hair, remaining still but looking at the child from the corner of its eye, appearing ill-at-ease) call a dog behaviour expert to help you work out a plan of action.

Best rule of thumb and advice: never leave your baby, toddler or child alone with any dog.

PHOTO CREDIT: Jody Ryan Photography

By Carla Morgan - mum of three + two fur babies. 

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