Introducing new baby and dog

There's nothing cuter than watching a family stroll through the park, stroller and dog in tow....there's also nothing more sad than reading Craigslist ads for people who are getting rid of their dogs because they "aren't adjusting well to the new baby..." Bringing home a new member to your pack is a big deal, especially when it's a newborn! Even the most well behaved dog will need time to adjust to your new family member, and here are some ways to make it a bit easier on you and your pet

- The first thing and most important to keep in mind...is your pet obedience trained? What this means is: does your pet respond well to verbal commands (sit, stay, come)...if they don't know these, don't expect them to but training before the new baby arrives is important! If your dog has had some basic training, use this time to reinforce those basic commands.

-If you haven't already, bring your dog to the vet for a thorough check up...this will give you time to deal with any parasites or problems that can pose a risk to your families health.

-Expose your dog to "baby stuff..." Dogs can get freaked by all the vibrating, singing dancing toys you have for your newborn so before he has the chance to, why not expose him first? Shake rattle, put on the musical mobile, even play a tape of a baby crying...so your dog knows what to expect. Let your dog sniff out the babies blankets, clothes and other goodies as well!

-Before bringing baby home from the hospital, have a family member bring home a blanket with the newborns scent on it...this will allow your dog to become used to the smell. My Uncle has owned Doberman's his entire life - when his little girl was born he brought home a blanket and let the dog sniff away...when she made her arrival home she was greeted in a positive manner from both dog, and the rest of the family members :)

-When it's time to come home, let Dad carry the baby while mom greets the dog! This will reduce jealously and let your pet know he was missed while you were away.

-For the first few encounters, I think it's a good idea to play it safe and keep your pet on a leash. Even the most well behaved dog can get a little freaked out by the sight of a squirming, crying newborn. It IS important that the dog knows the baby is a new member of their pack.

-Let your dog sniff the baby - pawing, nudging and nipping are obviously negative behaviors but they do need to become acquainted. Use positive reinforcement when the dog is acting appropriately

When introducing dog and baby NEVER:

Exclude and ignore your pet. YES you're bringing home a new baby and that's exciting but your dog was there first, and they require just as much love and attention as they're used to getting.

Leave the baby and dog alone – even if your dogs personality can rival Lassies for the first few weeks upon bringing baby home, do not leave your pet unsupervised.