Bringing Your Baby Home

Following on from our previous blog post, here are a few tips on how to promote family harmony when the baby finally comes home.
 
Firstly, before allowing the dog and baby to meet, parents should expose the dog to the new baby’s scent, using a worn item of its clothing.
 
On the day when the mother sees the dog for the first time since coming out of hospital, the dog is likely to be very excited. The best way to deal with this is to ensure that they are reintroduced when the dog is tired; by making sure that he has had plenty of prior exercise. This initial greeting should be done without the baby being present, as the dog may jump up. However, when the situation has calmed down, the dog and baby should be introduced in a quiet room, with an adult cradling the baby, whilst the dog is allowed to sniff. After a few seconds of interest, the dog is likely to begin to move away, when he does this he should be praised.
 
All interactions between the pair should always be supervised, and it is important to regularly praise and reward the dog whenever he is demonstrating appropriate behaviour around the baby. This will not only help to develop a strong positive association, but it will also reduce the likelihood that the dog will perform undesirable behaviour in order to receive attention. The dog should also be provided with his own ‘safe haven’, a quiet place of his own where he can go in order to rest and not be disturbed.
 
Finally, it is inevitable that the daily routine for all family members will change following the arrival of a baby, and sometimes this can be difficult for a dog, especially if walks are less frequent as a result. If this is the case, obtaining the services of a local, reputable dog day care or dog walker can prove invaluable.