Dogs and Babies - How to Set the Stage for a Positive Relationship

Dogs and babies, the darlings of any household!  But what can you do to make sure that Fido never hurts the baby? Even the most loving pet can turn into a jealous monster if it thinks its competing for your attention with a new baby. Well I just read up on CNN a couple ways to help dogs and babies get along, and knowing how to prepare your dog for a new baby is the first step to protecting the child, and keeping the dog!  Here is a quick summary:

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, approximately 800,000 people are treated for dog bites every year, most of them children.

Conflict between dogs and babies or children is a common problem that only leads to unhappy endings:

The Humane Society of the United States says hundreds of pets end up at the pound every year because parents are faced with a dilemma: Get rid of an angry, jealous animal or the new baby. It's obvious who wins.

So, if you want to avoid a situation of conflict between your dogs and babies, take some precautions, and take them early!  Dogs are most comfortable with routine.  Beginning around two months before the baby arrives, make gradual changes to the dog's routine.  If the mother-to-be is the primary caregiver (walker, feeder, etc) for the dog, begin letting someone else take on that role.

Dogs and babies shouldn't get too close in situations you cannot control, so train the dog to stay off the furniture before the baby arrives. Punishing the dog for getting too close to the baby can create a negative association for the dog. On this note, take care of any negative behaviors, such as nipping, jumping, or barking, before they become a threat to the baby. Always train your pet safely and humanely, or you could make the problems worse.

Once the baby is born, introduce the dog to the baby's scent by bringing home a blanket that the baby has slept on.  Introduce baby sounds, toys, etc to the dog to let it become acclimated to the changes.

As baby and pet grow together, teach your child to respect an animal. Don't let the baby pull its tail or rush at it.

A relationship of mutual respect will keep the dog from lashing out at the child.  Don't let your baby walk all over the pet, so to speak, so that it never feels the need to retaliate, or even play rough, with the child.  With a little work, gradual changes, and good training, dogs and babies can get along, but never leave them unsupervised together!

For more info on introducing cats and dogs to babies, check out this article on the Humane Society's website.