Dear Lisa: We have two female Labrador Retrievers, aged four and five years, who we treat as members of our family. Soon we will be joined by another family member, our first baby, due in April. We are nervous that the dogs will be jealous or overprotective with a newborn. What’s the best way to introduce our new baby to the dogs and how do we ensure everyone will get along? – “Expecting” Trouble

 

Dear Expecting: I’m glad to hear that you already consider your dogs to be members of your family. Dogs are social creatures thriving best in a pack or family environment with delegated leaders. In the wild, it is usually only the two dominant alpha members that reproduce offspring. The rest of the pack chips in to help with the other duties such as guarding, feeding, babysitting or whatever else needs to be done around the den. As the dominant leaders in your “family” pack the dogs expect you to create offspring. The trick is to let the pack know that the “human offspring” belongs to you and that you love him/her very much. Communicate to your dogs that the new baby isn’t a threat and your dogs won’t try to guard you against it.

Preparing for Baby

Many couples have dogs as surrogate “kids” before doing the real thing and as such have showered their dogs with tons of affection and attention. With the arrival of the baby, this attention usually shifts away from the dogs. One of the most important things you must continue to do is pay close, quality attention to your dogs after the baby has arrived. Do not let the dogs think they are getting any less attention because of the baby or they may begin to “act up” or be spiteful, such as pooping in the baby’s room. Jealously with the dogs will only rear its ugly head if you give it a reason to.

Dogs thrive on routine and like to know when they can expect certain things, like feeding time, playtime and going for that long walk. Well before baby’s arrival, expecting parents need to establish a new “baby inclusive” routine. Change the dog’s feeding time, walk time, length of quality time to revolve around what will become the main schedule in the house – the baby’s. This way the dogs will be happy in a new routine before baby arrives. Also, if there are behaviors that are now acceptable to your dogs, such as sleeping on your bed or in your bedroom, and won’t be acceptable post partum, alter them now.

Dogs also react to new sights, sounds and smells. While Mom is still at the hospital have Dad bring home the smells of the baby such as clothing or blankets. Or use a towel with some baby lotion or powder on it and get the dogs accustomed to this new smell in the house. New items such as baby toys, blankets and diapers should also be introduced at this time. It will reduce the sensory overload these dogs will have to deal with when “Junior” arrives. Put up baby gates on the door to the nursery to keep the dogs out. They should only be invited into the inner sanctum at your request and never unsupervised.

Baby Comes Home

Upon arrival home from the hospital, have Mom enter the house first and greet the dogs while Dad brings the baby into the house away from the dogs. Introductions between baby and beasts will come later when everyone is more relaxed and the excitement level has dwindled.       

Introduce one dog at a time, from a distance, on a leash. If you are worried about over exuberance, or if there is a history of aggression in any of your dogs, consider using a muzzle. If the dog is not used to a muzzle, again introduce it weeks before the baby arrives. The dog should not associate the baby with negative experiences.

To begin, put the dog on a sit and stay command. (If the dog is rusty on basic obedience give her a refresher course before baby’s arrival). Then have Mom hold the baby in her arms about 10 to 15 feet away while the dog looks on. When the dog is behaving, give lots of praise and a treat. In time the dog will begin to associate that seeing Mom with the baby means more attention and the bonus of a few treats! Make this process gradual and if the dog shows any signs of aggression or too much excitement, back down on the amount of exposure and work more slowly. Eventually in a few days the dog will be ready to sniff the newborn up close. Again, if you have any doubts, leave the muzzle on.

A good idea is to exercise the dog and expend lots of energy before introductions. A tired dog is less likely to get into mischief. The two golden rules to follow: keep giving your dogs all the love and attention they got before baby and never leave dogs and baby unsupervised – ever. 

Lisa Peterson, a breeder and exhibitor of Norwegian Elkhounds, is the Public Education Coordinator and Secretary of the Newtown Kennel Club and Delegate to the American Kennel Club for the Norwegian Elkhound Association of America. Ask Lisa questions at elvemel@aol.com or P.O. Box 197, Newtown, CT 06470.