As a new parent, it is completely normal to have a plethora of questions. One of the most common questions expecting parents have is whether or not it is safe to have a dog around a newborn. It is perfectly natural to be concerned about the safety of your baby and the potential risks associated with having a pet in the home. Knowing the risks and potential benefits of having a dog can help parents make an informed decision about whether it is a good fit for their family. This blog post will explore the potentials risks of having a dog near a newborn as well as how to safely introduce a dog to a newborn. By understanding the potential risks and benefits, parents can make a decision that is best for their family.
Preparing Your Dog for Lifestyle Changes
Many dogs experience anxiety when their lifestyles are drastically altered. Although things will change when your new baby arrives, you can reduce your dog’s anxiety by gradually acclimating her to these changes beforehand.
Plan and Practice Changes to Your Daily Routine
If you know how your schedule will alter once the baby is born, start a gradual transition to that new schedule now. Start taking sporadic afternoon naps if you intend to nap when the baby is sleeping in the afternoon. If you intend to walk your dog at various times throughout the day, gradually adapt to the new schedule.
Life with a baby can be hectic and sometimes unpredictable. It might be beneficial to get your dog used to a less predictable daily schedule. Try varying the time you feed your dog. For instance, if she has breakfast each day at 7:00 A M. sharp, start feeding her at random times between 6:00 A. M. and 10:00 A. M. As an alternative, you can prepare to follow your dog’s routine with the aid of an automatic feeder, Due to the built-in timers in these products, you can program them to deliver food at predetermined times every day whether you’re present or not.
At least for the first few weeks after the baby is born, think about hiring a dog walker to take over the duty of exercising your dog. Interview dog walkers and choose one now. You can ask the dog walker to begin taking your dog on sporadic walks to help her get used to leaving your home without you.
After the baby is born, if your dog enjoys playing with other dogs, think about taking her to a doggie daycare once or twice a week. Look into your options right away, and spend time introducing your dog to the daycare so that she becomes accustomed to this new activity. As an alternative, consider scheduling visits with friends or family members for your dog once or twice a week so she can spend time with people she knows and likes. Begin these visits now.
You can practice getting up in the middle of the night with your dog if you’re really ambitious. Teach her to be quiet and settle down where you’ll be nursing the baby.
Minimize Changes in Attention
Avoid the urge to give your dog more attention in the weeks leading up to the baby’s due date. This will only make her more disappointed when the baby appears and takes the spotlight. Schedule short play and cuddle sessions with your dog instead, and gradually give her less attention throughout the rest of the day. Plan your sessions randomly so that your dog doesn’t grow accustomed to receiving attention at specific times.
Make New Rules Now
Some of your dog’s privileges might change when the baby gets home. If you establish new rules beforehand, she will be more likely to accept them.
Introduce that restriction now if you don’t want your dog to be allowed on the furniture or the bed once the baby is born.
Start training your dog to keep all four of her paws on the ground if you don’t want her to jump up on you while you’re carrying or holding your newborn in your lap.
When the baby is born, if your dog is accustomed to sleeping in bed with you, offer her a cozy dog bed so she can sleep elsewhere. If necessary, you can enclose the new bed in a crate or an exercise pen to stop her from jumping onto your bed at night. Similarly, create a habit long before the baby arrives if you want your dog to sleep in a different room.
Even if your dog adores kids, she might unintentionally graze your baby’s tender skin while they’re in the car together. If your dog is nervous in the car, think about installing a car barrier, getting a dog seatbelt, or teaching her to unwind in a crate. Most major pet stores carry barriers, special seatbelts, and crates.
Many people value their dog’s watchdog abilities because having a vocal dog around the house can be a great deterrent to burglars. However, it gets old very quickly when your baby is trying to nap and your dog is barking at passing cars, neighbors, and scurrying squirrels outside. She needs to learn now that she doesn’t need to be quite so cautious. Please read our article on Barking to learn how to stop her from continually raising the alarm.
If the Baby’s Room Will Be Off-Limits
Some people choose to have their dog wait outside the baby’s room unless they specifically invite him or her in. Teaching your dog to sit or down by the door is the simplest way to achieve this.
Keep the baby door closed or place a tall baby gate in the doorway when you’re not training so that your dog becomes accustomed to having limited access.
If the Baby’s Room Won’t Be Off-Limits
In the infant’s room, place a dog bed in a hidden location and keep a bowl of dog treats nearby. Leave some treats on your dog’s bed occasionally when she’s not looking. Later on, she can discover them on her own. She’ll get used to her new spot in the nursery.
When you need your dog to stay out of the way, you can train her to lie down on her new bed in the baby’s room.
Teach your dog to spend quiet time in the room with you if you intend to spend time in the baby’s room while you’re nursing or rocking him to sleep. Your dog can unwind on her bed while you are seated in a chair. During your quiet time sessions, consider providing her with a fresh chew bone or a food puzzle toy to work on. When the baby is born, you can occasionally throw treats to your dog while she is lying on her bed when you rock or feed him. She will enjoy being around the infant because of this routine, which will also encourage her to remain seated during quiet time.
If you don’t have time to teach your dog the “Stay” command, you can remind her to stay on her bed with a leash or tether fastened to a large piece of furniture. If you’d prefer, you can fasten the tether by screwing an eye hook into a baseboard. With this routine, your dog will be able to spend time with you and the baby without jumping up or pawing at you.
If your dog is agile enough to climb into your baby’s crib, it’s important to let her know right away that she’ll never be allowed to curl up there because to some dogs, a crib might seem like the perfect place for a cozy nap. Simply call her to come to you if she approaches the crib and investigates it for more than a few seconds. If she complies, praise her warmly. When your dog tries to jump up and place her front paws on the crib, firmly clap your hands together and exclaim, “Off!” then lead her away from the crib while holding her by the collar. When you’re not watching her, keep the baby’s door closed or use a baby gate to block the doorway if you believe she might try to enter the crib.
Preparing Your Dog for New Experiences
Babies can appear to dogs who haven’t spent much time with them as strange, even frightening, creatures. They move in peculiar ways, make loud, screeching noises, smell strange, and definitely don’t resemble grownup humans. Introduce your dog to as many baby-like sights, sounds, smells, and motions as you can so that when the baby arrives at your house, some aspects will be familiar.
Introduce Your Dog to Baby Sights, Sounds and Smells
To introduce your dog to new baby items, such as toys, car seats, highchairs, and swings, unwrap them from their packaging one or two at a time. If you are watching your dog, you can also put smaller items on the ground. Allow her to investigate them, but if she picks them up, pull her focus back to one of her own toys or chew toys right away. (Because it might be challenging for your dog to distinguish between her belongings and the baby’s, it’s critical to assist her in learning this now.)
To get your dog to associate the baby’s lotions, shampoos, creams, and powders with you, start using a tiny bit of them on yourself. If you can, borrow baby-scented clothing and blankets to accustom the dog to that smell.
When your dog hears the baby cry, she might become agitated or scared if she’s sensitive to strange noises. Purchase a recording of realistic baby noises and play it frequently to help her get used to the sound beforehand. Give your dog plenty of affection, treats, and anything else she enjoys whenever you play the recording. Turn off the recording after five to ten minutes, and ignore your dog for about thirty minutes. Do this several times a day. If you try this procedure and find that your dog seems really afraid of the recorded baby noises, you may need to start with the volume very low. She’ll learn to look forward to them because they predict attention and treats for her, rather than becoming afraid or upset when she hears them. You can gradually turn up the volume once she becomes accustomed to it at a low volume. Every time she hears the baby sounds, don’t forget to give her plenty of delectable treats, like pieces of cheese, hot dog, or chicken.
Practice with a Doll
Some behaviorists advise getting a lifelike doll to use as a substitute for the baby while you practice feeding, carrying, and rocking them. Of course, your dog will quickly realize the doll isn’t a real baby, but her initial responses to it could help you decide which obedience training techniques you should prioritize before the baby is born. The doll can assist you in practicing both dog interaction and baby care at the same time.
When you lift a doll and hold it in your arms, some dogs will jump up. It’s important to plan what you’ll do if this happens. Asking your dog to remain in a sit or down whenever you hold, lift, or handle the doll is a helpful solution.
You can train your dog to give gentle kisses using the doll. If hygiene is a concern, you can instruct her to only lick the doll’s feet. Give your dog plenty of treats and praise for making any kind of gentle contact with the doll.
Say “No” if your dog tries to bite the doll because she might believe it’s a toy if she knew it wasn’t a real baby. Then immediately divert her focus to a suitable toy, and if she chooses to play with that instead, congratulate her enthusiastically. Teach her to treat anything you’re holding in your arms like a baby with the utmost respect.
Prepare Your Dog for the Baby’s Touch and Movement
Handling
You’ll teach your kid to handle your dog gently once he’s old enough to understand the lesson. However, young children frequently snatch the fur, ears, tails, and other accessible parts of dogs because they don’t know any better. Accustom your dog to the types of touching you can anticipate from your baby, such as grabbing, poking, pushing, and pulling, to get her ready for this inevitable situation. Your dog will be better able to tolerate potentially uncomfortable interactions with the baby if you teach her that good things happen when she is prodded and poked.
Poke the Pup
Poke your dog gently and then give her a treat. Gently tug on her ear and then give a treat. Give her a treat after lightly pinching or grabbing her skin. Each time you prod, pull, or pinch your dog, say something cheery like, “Oh, what was that?” When the infant repeats these actions later, you can use the same phrase. Your dog will eventually begin to anticipate tasty treats and will simply look to you whenever she is grabbed or pinched. Utilize treats that are especially exciting, such as cheese, chicken, or hot dogs, as you practice these handling exercises four to eight times daily. (Training sessions can be short—about five minutes long). When you start your training, be very gentle. Make your touches stronger over time, just as they will be when the baby delivers them.
Movement
It can be frightening for some dogs to see a human crawl, especially since doing so places the person right at their eye level. Therefore, it’s a good idea to teach your dog to crawl before your baby begins to move around independently. Accomplishing this is easy! Crawl toward your dog. Pet her and give her treats as soon as she raises her head to face you. When she sees you crawling in her direction, she’ll eventually begin to anticipate fun and goodies. Everyone in the family should participate in this exercise. When your baby is born and your dog is completely at ease playing this new game, include the baby as well. When you crawl, have him sit on your back with assistance from your partner. To ensure that your dog continues to enjoy this peculiar, novel human behavior, don’t forget to hug and treat her!
First impressions are important. From the beginning, your dog should get along well with your child.
Send everyone else inside the house first when you bring your newborn home from the hospital so your dog can greet guests with her customary enthusiasm. Have someone leash her after she’s had a few moments to say hello and has used some of her energy. Even if you have no reason to think that she will react poorly to the baby, this is crucial. Additionally, they should prepare some tiny treats to give your dog during his initial interactions with the child. (Preparing these treats beforehand and keeping them in a container by the front door may be helpful.)
Keep your cool and unhurried when you and the child enter the house. Your dog will pick up on your anxiety and may become anxious as a result, believing that the baby in your arms is something to be concerned about. Instead, as you enter the house, call your dog with a soft, upbeat voice. Provide her with plenty of treats to divert her attention away from them, your baby, and the other guests in the room. Your dog can be asked to comply with commands like “sit” and “down,” and the helper can use treats to reinforce her good behavior. Praise your dog for any calm interest in the baby. Avoid scolding your dog. Keep in mind that you want her to associate the baby with good things rather than with your dislike.
Meeting the Baby
Plan the event carefully, whether you decide to let your dog investigate the baby right away or wait until later. Pick a calm location and place the infant in your arms while you sit down. Your dog should be leashed and brought into the room by an assistant. Again, avoid nervous or agitated behavior. As you invite your dog to approach, speak to her in a friendly, relaxed tone. Persuade her that spending time with and meeting her new friend is enjoyable rather than stressful.
Have your friend lead your dog toward you and the infant if she exhibits a calm, friendly demeanor while on a short, loose leash. Keep talking softly to her, and if she wants, let your dog sniff the baby. Praise her warmly for gentle investigation.
Even though your dog appears calm and curious, you might be hesitant to let her get close to the baby. That’s normal for new parents and perfectly reasonable. Initially, you might feel most comfortable allowing only brief interactions. Allow your dog to briefly inspect the infant’s feet. Next, praise her and ask her to sit or lie down gently to end her investigation. Reward her for complying with a few small, tasty treats. (Your assistant can give them to you or give the treats to your dog directly.) If you like, repeat this sequence a few times. With a fresh chew bone or a food puzzle toy, have your assistant then divert your dog’s attention.
Teaching Your Dog to Love the Baby
Continue to focus on associating the baby with positive things for your dog as he settles in. When the baby is sleeping, you might be tempted to lavish her with attention; however, when the baby is awake, you might try to convince her to lie down, keep quiet, and leave you alone. It’s actually much better to do the opposite. When the baby is around, try to pay your dog lots of attention. Teach her that she will receive treats, petted, played with, and anything else she enjoys when he is present. You can also feed your dog while you’re feeding the infant. Try your best to bring the baby with you when you walk the dog. (Baby “backpacks” and slings are great for dog parents). This tactic teaches your dog a valuable lesson while requiring some skillful multitasking on your part. She’ll come to cherish the baby’s alertness and activity because those are the times when good things happen for her.
Of course, having two adults at home makes it simpler to give the baby and your dog attention at the same time. However, if that isn’t possible, you can still accomplish a lot by holding your infant in your lap and conversing with and petting your dog while giving her treats or tossing a ball for her.
Additionally, make sure your dog understands how boring it is without your baby around. While your dog can accompany you, try to ignore her the majority of the time. This will strengthen her bond with the baby and make her eagerly anticipate his next period of activity.
Out from Underfoot
If your dog insists on being underfoot, it can be extremely difficult to care for an infant. You can instruct her to step away when you ask so that everything will be simpler and safer for everyone.
Gradually increase the number of steps your dog must complete before receiving a reward during your subsequent training sessions. You can eventually wait until she moves a few feet away before hurling the treat at her. You can use this skill in other situations once your dog has mastered it. For instance, when your child learns to crawl, you can use the cue to teach your dog to leave him if she feels uneasy.
Quiet Time Together
Teaching your dog to relax for some quiet time is another excellent way to get her to stay out of the way while you take care of the infant. In the space where you typically feed the baby, keep a dog bed or comfortable mat. When it’s time to nurse or give him a bottle, make sure your dog has access to some delicious food as well. She can be rewarded for performing a good down-stay on her bed by tossing some kibble every few seconds. As an alternative, you can take care of the baby in the same room while giving your dog a fun new chew bone or food puzzle toy to play with.
Polite Manners Around the Baby
Reward your dog for being courteous around the infant as frequently as you can. Encouragement of calm, controlled behavior now will pay off in the coming weeks and months as your dog grows increasingly fascinated and excited by your baby. Consider enrolling your dog in a group obedience class, or if no one in your family has the time, hire a private trainer to teach you how to train your dog at home. Your first few days, weeks, months, and even years with your child will go much more smoothly if your dog is well-trained!
What Was That?!
Loud baby noises in particular can frighten and confuse your dog. While most dogs simply learn to ignore them, some require additional training. If the baby’s noises cause your dog to become agitated, try associating the sounds with your dog’s favorite things. If the baby squeals or cries, give your dog a tasty treat right away. Your dog will eventually learn that baby sounds don’t necessarily mean something bad after some practice. In fact, they predict the delivery of food!.
If Your Dog Is a Little Nervous About the Baby
Sniff the Baby
Some dogs avoid contact with children because they are anxious around them or even a little afraid of them. You can train your dog to touch the baby with her nose on command if she exhibits any signs of apprehension around the new member of your family. Without being compelled to remain in close proximity for more than a few seconds at a time, this activity will provide her with a safe way to interact with him and become accustomed to his scent, appearance, and sounds.
You must first train your dog to touch your hand with her nose before you can begin. Once your dog knows when to touch your hand, you can teach the infant to do the same.
Place your hand on the infant with the palm facing your dog. When your dog approaches and touches your hand, say “Touch,” and then give them a treat.
After a few repetitions, change the rules a little. First, say “Touch. When your dog is about to touch your hand with her nose, move your palm quickly backwards a few inches so that your dog accidentally touches the child. Say “Yes!” as soon as she does, then give her a few extra treats. Keep doing this exercise until your dog repeatedly reaches out with her nose rather than her hand to touch the infant. (For some dogs, this might take just a few repetitions. Others may need a few training sessions before catching on).
As soon as you say your cue, begin pointing to your infant instead of raising your hand.
If your dog finds this to be enjoyable, she may soon begin to gently sniff or nose the baby on her own. If this occurs, be sure to give her a treat and enthusiastic praise. Your dog’s new friendly behavior might be maintained by praise alone, but it’s a good idea to continue periodically rewarding her with treats, too. By doing this, you’ll teach her that being close to the baby isn’t frightening; instead, it earns her your joyful attention and, occasionally, delectable treats.
Handouts at the High Chair
When babies begin to become more vocal, active, and mobile, timid dogs frequently struggle. Fortunately, this time frame corresponds with when infants begin to understand gravity by throwing finger foods from the high chair to the ground. You might be able to persuade your dog that having a baby in the house is a very good thing if you let her assist you in cleaning up these tasty experiments!
What NOT to Do
Never force your dog to interact with your baby. Let her approach him on her own. Speak softly to her and commend her for her bravery when she appears nervous.
If Your Dog Responds Aggressively to the Baby
Because they have not been properly socialized with kids and perceive them as strange and frightening, dogs that become aggressive toward a new baby in the house frequently do so because of this. Although some dogs don’t mind children, they may act aggressively when defending their food, toys, or chew sticks. Infants and young children are unable to comprehend the importance of leaving the dog’s belongings alone. Additionally, they might find a dog’s growling and barking amusing or struggle to recognize its warning signs. If a child ignores these warnings, terrible things may happen. A small percentage of dogs appear to treat infants like squeaky toys, and this behavior can be very dangerous. In each of these scenarios, there is a significant chance that a child will be bitten.
What to Do
Get help. Keep your dog away from your baby at all times if she exhibits aggressive behavior toward him in any circumstance, or if you suspect that she might. Then, call an animal behaviorist right away. To find a board-certified veterinary behaviorist (Dip ACVB), a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA), or a certified applied animal behaviorist (CAAB or Associate CAAB) in your area, please refer to our article on Finding Professional Behavior Help. Make certain the expert you hire is qualified to assist you. It’s crucial that they have a lot of experience successfully treating canine aggression.
Should You Correct Your Dog for Aggressive Behavior?
Inhibiting your dog’s aggressive behavior toward your child is obviously important. However, punishing an aggressive dog physically or verbally is not the best course of action. Because your dog will learn that bad things happen when your child is around as a result of punishment, it may backfire and make your dog dislike him even more. Your dog might fear or dislike your child more if he starts to represent a target for punishment. Avoid punishing your dog for acting aggressively when upset, especially if she’s growling, snapping, showing teeth, or otherwise acting aggressively. If your dog is lucky enough to warn you before biting, don’t yell at her or punish her in any other way. If you suppress her warning signs, they might vanish and you wouldn’t be able to tell when your dog was feeling uneasy or aggressive. As long as your dog growls, you have the chance to remove your dog or your child from dangerous situations.
Changing your dog’s reasons for acting aggressively is the most efficient and humane way to address aggression issues. If your dog bites your child, you can change her behavior by training her to enjoy his company. Again, it’s crucial to seek professional guidance. An experienced behaviorist or trainer can visit you at home, conduct a thorough assessment of your circumstances, and guide you through a methodical, secure behavior modification plan.
Teaching Your Dog Important New Skills
When balancing the needs of your dog and the baby’s care, having good verbal control over her can really help. The following skills are particularly important.
Basic Manners:
Special Skills:
You can regulate your dog’s movements and interactions with your baby by teaching her to leave the room when you ask her to. For instance, if the infant appears uneasy and your dog is crawling toward her, you can use this cue to instruct him to leave the area. She’ll never feel trapped in a stressful situation — and she won’t be forced to express her anxiety by growling or snapping — if she learns that she can simply walk away from the baby when he makes her nervous. Here’s how to teach your dog this invaluable skill:
FAQ
Is it OK to have dog near newborn?
Generally speaking, as long as your pet is well-behaved and you are present to supervise, it is acceptable to let them be around your new baby. A pet, who was previously the center of the family’s attention, frequently develops jealousy of a new baby.
Can newborns get sick from dogs?
Animal-borne illnesses are more likely to affect infants and children under the age of five. Due to their propensity for putting their hands in their mouths and frequent contact with surfaces that could be contaminated with animal feces (poop), young children are at risk.
Can a dog sleep in the same room as a newborn baby?
You can usually keep your baby and your pets apart for the majority of the time when they are young. Never let a pet share a bed with your baby and keep pets out of the room they sleep in. Always introduce your pets gently to a new baby. When you first bring a new baby home, dogs might become envious of them.
What age can a baby be around a dog?
As early as six months old, many infants show an interest in pet dogs. That’s okay as long as your dog enjoys the attention and you always keep a close eye on your child. Even if your dog is a well-behaved, mellow family pet, you should never leave your child unattended with one.