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Added: February 22, 2007
A new baby should be introduced to your dog with a happy and upbeat atmosphere, and the dog should be allowed to sniff the infant. As to how close this contact should be, this is best left to the owner's discretion. Owners are more sensitive to their dogs' moods than outsiders. If the owner is nervous about putting the baby on the floor for the dog to freely investigate, this should be avoided, as the dog will sense the owner's anxiety and may perceive the baby and situation as "wrong." However, if the dog's perception of the newcomer and its owners' response is upbeat and positive, the newcomer is usually readily accepted.
Be Careful When Your Baby Cries
Immobile, quiet babies are one thing, but a squalling infant is perceived as another kind of "animal" by a dog. Most dogs show concern when babies start their high-pitched complaining. This is normal canine behavior. However, when such crying begins, it is best to call the dog to Come, then "jolly" it so that it does not think the child is in pain. Then the baby can be attended to. In this way, most dogs will seek out the owners when the baby starts to cry, rather than rush to the baby. This can be life saving if the child is genuinely injured or ill, and the owners are asleep and out of earshot.
The Crawling Baby
The first crawling by an infant may elicit extreme curiosity from the dog. As with other first-time experiences, the upbeat and positive routine should be used here, too. This also applies to the baby's first attempts at walking.
When the baby is actually walking, and tumbles or careens awkwardly toward the dog, "jollies" should be applied. If the child appears about to fall on or corner the dog, the dog should be shown by the owner's movement how to move away from the youngster. This should be continued until the dog moves away on its own.
When the baby falls, the owner should avoid rushing over and picking it up. Once again, a moment of jollies and a calm approach to righting the child will help avoid the idea that a fallen child warrants concern. Many parents whose dogs have developed negative relationships with babies tell me that the problem started when the dog was scolded or punished for rushing over to the fallen baby, an act which they learned from the parents!
When The Baby Is Curious About The Dog
It is wise to allow a maturing baby to satisfy its interest in the dog. However, this should be done with supervision and lots of happy praise for the dog. It is unwise to scold a baby if it inadvertently steps on or sticks a finger in the dog's eye, pulls its hair, etc. The dog may believe the scolding is aimed at it or perceive the baby is being punished. Either way, there is the risk that the dog may later attempt to "discipline" the baby in the owner's absence. Rather, the dog should be jollied and the child should be calmly shown the proper way to pet the dog.
Kelly Marshall is a top author at Oh My Dog Supplies - an upscale pet shop featuring high end dog beds, dog feeders, and car seat covers
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