Dog and New Baby, Advice

[Rascalking]

Grateful Dad,

Sorry about the post last night. I was trying to do several different things at once.

I noticed that you said some questionable things about dog owners, and dogs in general. You also mentioned that you try to make God the center of your life.

What I was trying to say was that this **thread ** wasn’t the best place to express those feelings. Perhaps it would have been better if you started a new topic, then you could discuss your feelings about pet ownership.

 

[flatlanderjenn]

When you come home from the hospital after giving birth, you should walk in the front door alone and empty handed. After you’ve been gone for a couple days, the dog is going to want some love and attention from you and might feel threatened or replaced if you have a baby in your hands and first thing you tell the dog is “GET!” So pet and greet your dog and let him smell you. Then let your husband walk in with the baby in hand. Your husband has slept at home the night before, and been in and out of the house the last couple days, so he won’t be excited to see him. Let your husband sit down on the floor next to you and let the dog smell the baby. This way he understands the baby isn’t a threat. And dogs seem to pick up on the emotions of their owners, so don’t fret and stress out whenever the dog comes over to smell the new baby playing on the floor. Just make sure you are close by.

My husband and I introduced all three of our children to our dog like this. We have a Chow mix, and chows have an aggressive reputation. Instead of being aggresive toward our children, he’s extremely protective of our children, yet he still respects them and understands he is the lowest in the pecking order.

It’s a simple yet good idea to keep in mind.

 

[RSD]

When you come home from the hospital after giving birth, you should walk in the front door alone and empty handed. After you’ve been gone for a couple days, the dog is going to want some love and attention from you and might feel threatened or replaced if you have a baby in your hands and first thing you tell the dog is “GET!” So pet and greet your dog and let him smell you. Then let your husband walk in with the baby in hand. Your husband has slept at home the night before, and been in and out of the house the last couple days, so he won’t be excited to see him. Let your husband sit down on the floor next to you and let the dog smell the baby. This way he understands the baby isn’t a threat. And dogs seem to pick up on the emotions of their owners, so don’t fret and stress out whenever the dog comes over to smell the new baby playing on the floor. Just make sure you are close by…

This is good for the early days. Just remember, and I know I repeat myself, but it bears repeating, that for the dog it is a different story when the baby becomes mobile and starts taking things from the dog, pulling fur and ears and generally becoming a pest. Some dogs just love babies, but not all of them. You can teach them that they have to tolerate babies, but always let them know they can get away if it is too much.

 

[Zooey]

Make a point of giving the dog many positive experiences when the baby is present. For instance, whenever possible call the dog to you while you are holding the baby, and give the dog a reward. I know it seems like the opposite of what you would tend to do, but ignore the dog when you don’t have the baby, and play with, feed, praise the dog when you do have the baby. That way, the dog will feel that having the baby around is a good thing. The baby makes you happy!

RSD:

Not all dogs are naturally good with babies. The first few months lay the ground work, but once the baby starts crawling, and taking toys, pulling fur and the like, it all changes. Make sure that when that time comes your dog knows that it is all right to run away. You don’t want the dog to feel trapped. In general goldens tend to be good with kids, but it is very individual.

It is wonderful that you are giving your baby the gift of being born into a household with a pet. Jesus chose to be born into the stable with lots of animals, but we can’t all be that fortunate. Teach your dog to imitate various barn animals (braying, mooing, clucking, etc.) so the baby can have a more Christmas-like experience.

Some of the above advice is good.

 

[blaskoman]

oh goodie–another pet thread.

The dog will be very jealous of the new member of the family. It’s probably best you keep the two separated until your baby reaches age 3.

 

[SMHW]

It’s been my (albeit limited) experience that the best way of introducing a dog to a baby depends on several factors. In any case, the humans have to understand how the dog thinks, rather than expecting the dog to think like a human, since being the more intelligent species means the greater responsibility.

If this is another baby in a home which already has children then the dog will probably just consider this another “puppy” in his pack and no special introduction other than letting the dog sniff the baby is necessary. Chances are the protective air projected by the parents is all the dog needs to figure out that the new baby ranks above him in the pack order.

If this is the first baby then the dog is more likely to be somewhat jealous. In fact this may be the first time the dog learns that he is not the leader of the household. (So there could be two things going on: humans asserting their own leadership of the pack and then, secondly, the introduction of the baby.) I am told that holding the baby up above the head of the dog but low enough that he can reach up and sniff the baby is a way of demonstrating to a do that the humans “own” the baby rather than the dog and that the dog must submit to the baby.

 

[severus68]

Dear Grateful Dad,

I have to say I feel sorry for you. This reponse is not to vilify you but made with hope that you will change your views. Love is not limited. It does not mean that if you love your dogs you don’t love human beings. Love is love and the more you love the more there is. I love animals and I support all life and that includes human life. Why are you so angry with animal lovers? If you don’t like animals you don’t have to keep them. Please do not forget that animals who do not have free will, have to suffer the consequences of Man’s fall. They are also God’s creatures.

Yours in Christ,
Ann