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Introducing a dog and newborn baby

  • 10-01-2022 6:03pm
    #1
    learner161
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8 ✭


    Hi

    Just looking for some advice on the best way to introduce a dog and a newborn baby.

    Baby clothes will be brought home so the dog is use to the babies scent.

    Do you bring the baby home from hospital, the dad goes in first, then goes back out the mum comes in while the dad is out in the car with the newborn. When things settle as he be excited to see his owners especially the mum as she would be gone for a few days then the newborn is brought in.

    It was mentioned keeping the dog away for a few days while the parents and newborn baby settle in and then bring the dog home.

    How has people who have dogs got them use to the baby in the house? I think the latter option that was mentioned would not be great as the dog might feel put out and might see the baby in a negative light. As all of sudden there is a baby in house, than been there when they come home. Thanks



Comments

  • #2
    ahappychappy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 118 ✭✭ahappychappy


    I think DSPCA are running a zoom information meeting about this topic - a colleague was talking about it recently.



  • #3
    learner161
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8 ✭learner161


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118451290#Comment_118451290

    Yeah they will have their baby as it is in March. Thank you tho.



  • #4
    DBB
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 9,790 Mod ✭✭✭✭DBB


    Hi op. Is the dog a house dog as it is? What sort of dog is he, and how does he normally respond to people and new situations?

    I'd strongly, strongly suggest that the parents-to-be start preparing the dog right now. Ideally they'd have started a few months ago, but there's still time!

    It's quite important to get the dog so used to as much 'baby stuff' as possible before baby arrives that he's kinda bored by things like buggies and prams, by his owners carrying a bundle about (a toy baby doll), by the noises of baby crying. Baby crying noises can be readily accessed via YouTube, and the trick is to start the noises at a very low volume, gradually raising the volume over a couple of weeks to full pitch. If the dog gets at all worried about the noise, they should dial back the volume and go slower at progressing the volume. But introducing dogs to the piercing noise of a baby crying, in a controlled way prior to the real thing, is really important.

    I'd also very strongly recommend that they get working on any training issues they might have... is the dog a jumper-upper? That needs to be remedied ASAP, because he simply can't be jumping up on parents as they carry baby, or indeed on visitors. It can be very useful indeed to have the dog trained to go to his bed and settle there, perhaps even using a crate or dog playpen or baby gates, so that you can get him offside at moments that you really need a dog-free space... very handy when there are extended family members and in-laws who don't agree with dogs being in the house with babies. Nice walking on the lead would also be really good to get established now, so that the dog can walk steadily beside a pram/buggy.

    It would be no harm at all for the parents-to-be to arrange for an in-home session with a good trainer, just to address any training issues NOW, not after baby has arrived, because they just won't have time with a new baby.

    As for the moment that baby comes home, I'd certainly recommend that items of clothing with baby's scent are brought home for the dog to have a good sniff of. When baby arrives home, definitely give the dog a few minutes to say all of his hellos to his owners before the baby is presented, just so that he has calmed down a bit.

    When baby comes into the house, with dog on lead, let him have a really good, thorough sniff with baby nestled in a seated parent's arms... and I really do mean let him entirely satisfy himself with sniffing, to the point that he walks away from baby himself. The parents can gently brush dog's nose away from the baby's face. The dog may need a few such intros, but they should get shorter each time. As the dog is investigating, he should be gently praised and congratulated for being nice.

    In summary, the trick is to try to get the dog as used as possible to life with a baby before baby ever arrives, so that life with a baby is relatively normalised for the dog by the time baby comes along. It's important to resolve to be extremely patient with the dog... really patient, and having the dog as well prepared as he can possibly be.



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