PAWS ACROSS BORDERS- Dog Rescue
"Yes, that is right... that is a baby and a Pit bull! I trust a pittie with a baby over a a lot of Breeds any day!"
My Blog
May 14, 2010: Bringing home baby: Relax... your dog will love baby as much as you do!
So, you are about to pop one out, and you are worried about how Rex is going to react to the new addition to the family coming home. Should you worry? The short answer is: not really. Most dogs love people, especially their family and will be more curious than anything. The biggest concern is to control jumping or pawing. In my experience, most people are concerned their dog may be aggressive or jealous towards the baby. The real concern is that the dog may be too protective of the baby. It is important to remember several things, but first, let's get the baby home and do some introductions!
1. Your dog will know something is going on, long before you go into hospital. Allow it to spend time in the baby's future room. Get him used to it. Dogs are very curious creatures. He will want to investigate everything in there. Let him, so that part of the big change will already be dealt with.
2. Do not isolate your dog in anyway. Take the time before the baby comes to train your dog properly so that he listens and behaves himself.
3. When it all goes down, and the baby is coming, make sure you leave your dog with someone that it trusts. Even better if Dad can come home and still spend time and exercise the dog.
4. While Mom and Baby are in hospital, try to bring home a blanket that smells like Baby, so the dog can get familiar with the scent a bit before the baby comes home.
5. Right before Mom and Baby come home, get the dog out and walk him. This will help Dad and Rex relax.
Ok, now that those simple things are accomplished, let's bring Baby in the door, well not right now. First, allow Mom to go inside by herself to say hi to Rex. Remember, it has been a few days, and time goes by soooo sloooooowly, when Mom isn't home, so Rex will really be excited. Once that excitement dies down, then it is time to bring Baby in.
Have Rex on-lead and put him on his bed. Mom and Baby sit on the couch, while Dad brings Rex slowly over, loose lead (remember, try to trust your dog here), and talking in a quiet, soothing voice..."good boy, that's a nice dog!"
Allow Rex to lift up and sniff the baby. Try to have Rex in a sit so he is less likely to even consider using his paw. Really try to work jumping and pawing out of a dog before the baby comes home.
NEVER leave Rex alone with the baby... don't be an idiot. Just play it safe.
Make sure you still pay attention, exercise, and love your dog. If you push your dog to the wayside, like I have seen so many times, that is when behavioural issues develop. Your dog should be a treasured member of your family and deserves not to be forgotten or given up.
If there are any issues that develop, just talk to a trainer that would be able to help you correct the problems. Teaching your dog to walk properly beside a stroller is one thing that is very useful to practice before the baby arrives.
1. Teach your dog to heel.
2. Teach your dog to heel by distractions.
3. Teach your dog to heel with an empty stroller. You may look crazy pushing around an empty stroller, but if you want to make your neighbours think you are really crazy, try putting a stuffed animal, wrapped in blanket. Go everywhere with your dog and your empty stroller, so that you both get plenty of practice. That way, when the baby is sitting there instead of a stuffed animal, your dog will heel like a champ and you won't have to deal with many distractions because everyone will keep themselves at a distance from the "crazy lady up the street."
Your dog loves you and it will love the baby, too. Just keep it settled, exercised and trained, and you'll be all set:)
"See, if a cartoon dinosaur can be good with kids, I am sure your dog can be, too! Bambam-BAM"
Website created in December, 2004. Produced and Maintained by Dan Ross - updated January 2010
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Previous Blog entries:
#1: Intro/Lupa
#2: Introducing a new dog into the house
#3: Housebreaking
#5: Having a Baby
#6: People Training