My Top Tips for the Arrival of Your New Baby and Your Dog
Jun 4, 2019
Train a ‘go to bed’ cue to your dog and positively reinforce this area as a great safe place to be and settle before new baby arrives. A bed or a crate is fine but not to be used as a punishment area. With this being trained prior to your new arrival then when baby arrives it is part of normal routines.
Baby gates – Dogs should have boundaries prior to baby arriving so it doesn’t feel excluded when baby comes home. Gates are a way for the new parent to manage a new baby and dog safely. These can be combined with your settle place above.
Keep beds and settees dog free zones before baby comes home.
Look at having specific areas within the home that the dog is not allowed to enter. Certain rooms will remain dog free zones.
Put some tape on the floor around a crate, a bed area and in front of the baby gate where children and babies are instructed that they cannot cross as this is the ‘doggies’ safe place.
Take a baby blanket home for the dog to get used to your new baby’s scent.
Let the dog see any new baby equipment such as baths, prams, push chairs and activity centres so they can sniff them and watch them moving prior to your baby coming home. By leaving pieces of equipment around the home the dog will get used to them being there
Play sounds off YouTube of baby noises such as baby crying, baby squeaks, baby laughter and squeals
Always feed the dog in the other room and remove all bones and treats off the floor around the home
Be wary of a baby toys that squeak as this escalates excitement and arousal in dogs
Introducing your baby and your dog – Always introduce on a lead, allow a little sniffing, praise and reward your dog
When baby is being fed and changed, supply your dog with a nice chew toy or filled Kong
Concentrate on lead training prior, as you may have to manage the pushchair and your dog together
Concentrate on lessening barking issues prior to your baby coming home. Seek professional help from a trainer if constant barking is an issue
Remember no breed type or dog is exclusive of being ’100% fine’ with babies and children
Notice dog body languages around babies and children these can be pre-signs of the dog feeling uncomfortable. Here are some signs to look out for
White of the eye showing
Turning head away
Walking away in combination of other uncertain body languages
Lip licking
Fixed stare
A Freeze – A static position possibly combined with a stare and tightened muscles
Low tail position than normal
Growl
Never leave the baby alone with the dog
If you are at all concerned about your dog’s behaviour around your baby then safety is paramount. The use of a muzzle, a lead and boundary areas around baby is a must and seek behavioural advice from a professional immediatley.
Always ensure the dog’s needs are met, giving adequate exercise, a safe space of its own and maintaining usual feeding routines. Supplying lots of canine enrichment items which are mentally stimulating so the dog does not feel pushed out.
Train a ‘go to bed’ cue to your dog and positively reinforce this area as a great safe place to be and settle before new baby arrives. A bed or a crate is fine but not to be used as a punishment area. With this being trained prior to your new arrival then when baby arrives it is part of normal routines.
Train a ‘go to bed’ cue to your dog and positively reinforce this area as a great safe place to be and settle before new baby arrives. A bed or a crate is fine but not to be used as a punishment area. With this being trained prior to your new arrival then when baby arrives it is part of normal routines.