4 Tips on Bringing Your New Baby Home to the Dogs

A friend of mine called me a few months ago on the verge of tears. She called to ask if I could help her find a home for her two miniature poodles. My friend had had these dogs for over 7 years and was in a desperate position. While she loved them very much, she simply could not manage their behavior towards her 18 month old baby any longer. She had tried everything since she realized that her dogs did not like her daughter, but nothing seemed to work.

This is a difficult position to be in. On one hand, you love your pet and made a commitment to care for her. On the other hand you have a child whom you must protect and care for as well. You are exhausted, overwhelmed and have little time to deal with any additional stressors. This is not the time to start introducing your newest addition to your best friend. While there are no guarantees, with proper preparations this could be the start of a beautiful relationship between your human child and your furry one.

1. Start training as soon as you get the happy news that you are expecting. If your dog is not well trained or is a little rusty on basic commands then get her signed up for training classes as soon as possible. If you can not trust your dog to stay in a sit or a down without a baby in the house then chances are you will have no control over her when your baby comes home. You should be able to place your dog in a sit or down-stay or tell her to go lie down and receive a favorable response consistently.

2. Use a crate to create a safe place for your dog. If your dog is not crate trained then this is the time to get her acclimated to one. Crates should never be in your bedroom or the baby’s bedroom and should contain comfortable bedding. Think of a crate as an indoor dog house or a place where your dog can go to rest and relax. Dog crates are not designed as a punishment and you should use treats, toys and praise with your dog in the beginning to get her used to her new den. When the baby comes home you should be able to tell your dog to go to her crate whenever you and the baby need time and space without having to worry about doggie interference. Your dog might also appreciate a toy and a soft bed in her crate far, far away from the crying baby!

3. Practice by getting your dog used to a doll. As you get further along in the pregnancy begin to carry a toy doll wrapped in a blanket around the house. Cuddle with it, stroke it and act like it is a real baby. When doing this teach your dog not to jump on you or crowd you when you are holding it. Ignore her when she exhibits bad behavior and reward her if she stays away. Work on setting boundaries between your dog and the fake baby. With practice you should get to the point where you can place the doll on the floor and tell your dog no and she will not go over to investigate.

4. When the baby is born bring home an article of clothing or a blanket with his scent and place it on the practice doll baby. Make sure that the dog is close enough to smell it (in the room should suffice) and try placing the fake baby on the floor again to test the boundaries and allow your dog to have a preview of the new baby’s smell.

In addition to these tips, be patient with your dog. Remember that she was accustomed to receiving all of your love and attention and now she has to share you with the new baby. If you start early and commit to consistently working with her your chances of a happy homecoming will increase dramatically.