Tips to prepare dogs for baby?

[Anonymous]

We're expecting our first child in April and looking to make the transition as easy as possible for our two dogs. Both are rescue dogs - one a german shepherd that is uncertain around strangers and really protective of me (primarily) but also husband and house; the other is a lab mix with the opposite problem -- he can't get enough love! My fears are two-fold...that the GSD will not accept the baby as part of the pack to be protected (although I think that's a remote possibility, she pretty quickly accepted hubby after the marriage) or that the lab mix will try to love on the new baby too forcefully (laying on or against it, pawing at it). We know to bring home a baby blanket from the hospital so the dogs can get used to the scent and we know not to leave the baby alone with and accessible to the dogs. We also know to always let the baby lead the way into the house to establish superiority. Anything else you've done that worked well? We are optimistic that the GSD's strong protection instinct and Lab's general gentleness will carry over, but don't want to be foolish. Anything you can suggest to help our whole pack - human and canine - live together happily is appreciated!

[Anonymous]

I've also heard that the alpha member of your pack should carry the baby into the house for the first time. We are about to try all of this out as well.

Good luck

[Anonymous]

In addition to what you mentioned, we also left out baby items about a week before hand - the car seat, the stroller, diapers, etc just so it would be one less "strange" item to our dog.

Our dog was pretty nonchalant at the newborn stage, it wasn't until DD started crawling and reaching out to touch things (i.e the dog) that our doggie became super inquisitive.

I also recommend sticking to your normal routine as much as possible which I know will be super tough once you have the newborn home - you'll be exhausted, on a hormonal roller coaster, trying to feed/nurse/change diapers/bond, etc. but I recommend you take that time to stick to the typical "dog" schedule. If you always walked the dogs first thing in the morning, continue to do so. Dogs are creatures of habit and that is their world. Disruptions can cause chaos which is unstable and makes them nervous.

Just a thought. It worked for us and our dog.

One more note, I am pretty convinced that my dog knew of the impending new "pack" member while I was still pregnant. I wonder if they can sense the heartbeat or the vibration or something.

Congrats and good luck.

[Anonymous]

Also, bring the baby around when your dogs are in their most relaxed state (after a long walk and a good massage) and just hang out with one hand on each. Worked great for us, they began to associate relaxation with the baby. Good luck! For us, it was much easier than we expected...hope you have same!

[Anonymous]

OP - we've got the same breeds as you .. both rescues to boot! When I was pregnant the GSD started acting very odd -- pooping in the house and just being weird which had me concerned. I didn't let either dog be alone with either boy when they were under 1 yr old just in case. We were told beyond the blanket trick was when we brought the baby home to not put it on the floor (even in the infant car seat carrier) initially but to put it up on a chair or the couch so that the dogs would understand that the baby is a human and not on their level. Of course after a couple weeks we were on the floor doing tummy time and all that jazz and by then the dogs had figured it out. Knock on wood but 3.5 years later and another baby added to the fold and the dogs have been great. Mostly they were disinterested to tell you the truth but I'd rather have that then overly anxious. Both boys use the lab mix as a step ladder to get onto the couch and the dogs love meal times b/c they get to clean up the scraps. The only "odd" behavior we had with the GSD (who avoided my first child like the plague until he was about 1) was he tries to "herd" my toddler. Nothing aggressive but literally runs next to him pushing him in the direction he wants to go. I think remembering and reminding the dogs who's boss/human helps and trying to give them some extra love now and then makes a difference. Best of luck to you!

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks for the advice everyone! I hadn't heard the one about putting the baby "above" the dogs, rather than on their level, or of trying to associate the baby with relaxing. All great suggestions. PP - funny story - when I was a child our GSD had a great protection instinct and would 'herd' me away from things that were dangerous (like roads, and stoves, etc.) without ever having been trained, she also instinctively stood between me and strangers...a trait my current GSD shares. They are such great dogs!

[Anonymous]

www.dogsandstorks.com has some good tips