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Introducing Your Dog to a New Baby
Myth: Dogs often act out against babies because of jealousy.
The Joneses are expecting their first baby. They already have another "child," Lucky, a 6-year-old castrated male Labrador retriever/German shepherd. Lucky has been part of the family since puppyhood and is very attached to Mr. and Mrs. Jones. He often wedges himself between the Joneses and their visitors when the visitors get too close. Because he seems "jealous" of such visits, the Joneses are worried about how Lucky will react to their baby. Will he be depressed? Not eat? Sulk? Get destructive and spiteful? Worse yet, might Lucky be so jealous that he hurts the baby? The Joneses wonder whether their concern is warranted and what they might do to prevent problems when the baby arrives.
Social and Parental Behaviors of Dogs
The natural social structure of canines (e.g., wolves and dogs) is usually a family group, consisting of a dominant male and female and related individuals of various ages. Usually, only the dominant individuals breed, but all members of the pack help the mother and puppies by bringing them meat and guarding the pups. Subordinate females in the pack may even "baby-sit" and help nurse the puppies. Domestic dogs do not commonly bring food back to a mother and pups, however, they may guard a bitch during pregnancy and while she is lactating, as well as guard and watch over the puppies.
Pet dogs probably relate to the people they live with as though they are members of the same family group. Ideally, a newborn human infant would be accepted by the dog as an offspring to be included in the family. In fact, dogs are more likely to protect an infant from strangers or visitors than they are to be "jealous" of the baby.
Most problems between a dog and child do not occur until the child reaches the crawling and walking stages, at about 1 year of age. Nonetheless, owners should be attuned to the small possibility that a problem could occur with infants and "play it safe." It is possible that some dogs may not recognize the baby as a human to be included in its family group. Obviously, a baby will not be perceived as another dog nor does the baby look, smell or sound like a person. A dog that is unfamiliar with infants, particularly within the family, may interpret the baby as a prey item.
Dogs' Reactions to a Baby
Most dogs are curious about infants. This is particularly true if a dog has had little exposure to infants or a long time has elapsed since it has seen a baby. Owners who have observed their dogs' reactions to other babies in their home, on the street, or in other people's homes should be aware of the dogs' typical reactions and take any necessary precautions. Most dogs adapt quickly and easily to the presence of a new baby. However, because the consequences of a problem can be so severe, it is wise to assume that the dog could react adversely. Therefore, owners should implement all possible safety precautions, regardless of their dogs' previous encounters with babies.
Reasons to Take Precautions
A baby could be accidentally hurt as a dog attempts to play with or investigate the infant. An extremely active dog that cannot be well controlled by its owner could accidentally injure a baby while jumping up on the owner who is holding the baby.
Any dog with a known history of aggression toward people requires particular attention. A dog that is aggressive toward visitors, mail carriers, or other dogs could injure a baby if the child happens to come between the dog and the object of its aggression. Other dogs that require very close supervision in the presence of a baby are those that are aggressive when approached while eating, in possession of a bone, toy, or other favorite item, and those that are aggressive if startled or when awakened.
The most potentially dangerous situations involve predatory responses. Owners should be cautious about breeds with predatory tendencies and be extremely careful about any dog that is known to chase and/or kill small game. Precautions are especially important if these dogs have had little or no exposure to infants.
Previous interactions with small children are not the same as exposure to an infant. It cannot be assumed that a dog that plays in a friendly, gentle manner with young children will react the same way to an infant. Infants are very different from children. Children are probably interpreted by dogs as people, whereas infants may not be.
Every year, thousands of infants in the United States are victims of automobile accidents, burns, drowning, choking, suffocation, and poisoning. It has also been estimated that one child under 10 years of age is killed in a handgun accident each day in the United States. Few infants are severely injured by dogs, and the number of those killed is very small, probably no more than 10 per year throughout the United States. Despite the small risk, owners should be concerned about a dog's reaction to an infant and precautions are very worthwhile.
Monitoring Your Dog's Behavior
The interaction between infants and dogs should be monitored carefully over a long period. Interactions should be supervised until owners are sure that the dog is either paying no attention to or is completely friendly toward the baby. It is difficult to assess when close monitoring should cease, but it is better to be overly cautious rather than to reduce vigilance too soon.
Dogs should be exposed to infants in a very gradual and controlled manner as they learn that infants belong in the family. Gradual and controlled exposure also allows owners to assess how safe their infant is with the dog. The exposure should be positive. Dogs should not associate unpleasant situations with the baby or they may become anxious and even aggressive in the baby's presence.
Specific Suggestions for Introducing Dogs to Babies
If you are concerned or unsure about how your family dog will react to a new baby, consider implementing the procedures listed below.
 Getting Ready for the Arrival Preparations should begin months before the baby arrives. If your dog has not been trained how to sit, stay, lie down, or come when called, it should be taught to do so. If your dog already knows these commands but is unreliable, you should practice obedience exercises with the dog. Even if you consider your dog "pretty good," that is not good enough.
Imagine how your dog, if excited, will react when you bring the baby home. Would it reliably sit and stay or lie down and stay without rushing toward the infant? The dog should be able to inhibit its activity quickly and reliably - that is, to immediately stop running, jumping up, pawing, or barking. A dog head-halter and a light leash often facilitate training the dog and make it easier for you to get the dog to inhibit its activity when necessary.
If you have had experience training a dog, you might practice obedience procedures at home. Otherwise, it would be best to take your dog to a good, human training class. Dogs should associate commands such as sit, stay, and come with pleasant experiences. The dog may need to be corrected occasionally, but harsh punishment should be avoided. After all, the goal is for the dog to learn to like the owner and the baby, not simply to obey because it is frightened or is afraid of being punished. After your dog learns the basic sit/stay, come/stay, and down/stay commands in class, you should then work on these behaviors at home.
The next step involves requiring your dog to sit/stay as you do things that resemble "baby activities." For example, pick up a doll, cradle it, rock it, and walk back and forth. Periodically, reward your dog with tidbits, petting, or praise for remaining in a sitting position. The doll might also be wrapped in blankets and shown to the dog which must learn to control itself and to refrain from moving. Because dogs also respond to strange sounds with interest, it might be beneficial to accustom your dog to recorded sounds of a baby crying, babbling, or making other typical sounds.
If the opportunity is available, you could -- in a controlled manner to ensure the infant's safety -- expose your dog to real babies of friends or neighbors. This procedure should be considered only if the dog is already reliably trained and controllable. The dog should gradually be exposed to babies until it can remain relaxed in their presence. This may require several sessions.
If your baby is born in a hospital, you can familiarize your dog with the baby's smell by bringing home blankets or clothing that the baby has worn. (On the subject of diapers: It would behoove you to keep soiled diapers in a tightly closed container. One of the functions of a mother dog is to lick the urine and feces of puppies to keep the sleeping area clean. Quite frequently, female dogs will ingest the feces of a human baby and may go to great lengths to clean up after the child, including raiding diaper buckets! This is not an abnormal behavior but an aspect of canine maternal behavior.)
Bringing Your Baby Home When mother and baby come home from the hospital, the mother should not be holding the baby when the dog greets her. The baby could be held by another family member or be in a separate room as mother and dog greet each other. In this way, you can avoid reprimanding an excited dog that merely wants to greet the owner. It also prevents inadvertent injury of the baby by an excited dog.
A period of time should be allowed for the dog to get used to the smells and sounds of the baby and the presence of another creature in the house. After the general level of excitement in the household has decreased and the dog appears relaxed, the baby and dog can be introduced to each other.
One person should attend to the baby and another to the dog. The dog should be in a sit/stay or down/stay position and on a leash. If there is any concern that the dog may leap at the baby, a dog head-halter and leash or a muzzle should be placed on the dog. The dog should be allowed to see the baby at a distance of about 10 or 15 feet. Then either the dog or baby should be slowly brought closer to the other, 1 foot at a time. If the dog appears calm and under control, it might be allowed to sniff the baby -- but at a safe distance. If the dog is extremely excited, however, this should not be attempted. If the dog has a history of predatory or aggressive behavior, it may take many introductions before dog and baby are close enough for the dog to sniff the baby. As a backup safety aid in preventing the dog from moving too quickly toward the baby, use of a dog head- halter might be considered. Dog head-halters are not muzzles and should not be used as their substitutes. They are designed to stop a dog from moving forward, to prevent pulling against a leash, and to help control the direction of the dog's head. It is important that the nose-loop be large enough to allow the dog to be comfortable and to pant. Being able to pant with a wide-open mouth is very important in warm weather. Dogs can suffer hypothermia if not allowed to pant sufficiently. There are several types of head-halters available; each type has specific advantages. Owners unfamiliar with the use of head- halters may need help in learning how to use them. If a head-halter is used, both dog and owner should be thoroughly comfortable with it before using it to introduce the dog and baby.
Determining when to allow your dog to approach and sniff the baby takes careful judgment. Remember, a dog can sniff and smell a baby from several feet away. Over a period of days, however, ideally your dog should be allowed to smell the baby up close. After many such introductions, and when it's clear that the dog is not going to nip or lunge at the baby, you can allow your dog off the leash near your infant. If you wish to take further precautions, the dog can wear a comfortable muzzle when around the baby until you are certain the dog is friendly and safe.
The First Several Days and Thereafter For a time after the baby's homecoming, your dog should not have unsupervised access to your baby. Times to be particularly careful are when the baby is screaming, crying or waving its arms and legs. These stimuli could elicit a predatory, investigatory, or play- leap reaction by the dog toward the infant. During these times, it is wise either to put the dog in another room or have your dog with you but under command to sit/stay several feet away from the baby.
Sometimes dogs do "act up" after a new baby arrives. It is unclear whether these behaviors occur because of "jealousy" or simply because the dog is deprived of its usual and expected amount of social attention and affection. To ensure that your dog gets sufficient attention, play with and talk to your dog for a few minutes or ask the dog to sit and stay for a short time whenever you do something with your baby. These procedures allow the dog to associate pleasant experiences with the baby and give the dog extra attention.
If after the first several days you are still concerned that your dog might harm your baby, a screen door or study gate could be fastened at the entrance to the child's room. This precaution allows you to hear the baby but prevents the dog's access to the room.
When visiting friends or relatives, you should keep in mind that they may have dogs that are not accustomed to an infant in their homes. Furthermore, baby-sitters should be cautioned about bringing their dogs with them into the home of an infant. Tragic incidents have occurred when adults mistakenly believed a dog was in the backyard or securely confined away from a baby. A dog may push open doors and actively investigate the strange sounds and odors of an infant.
Conclusion
By far, most dogs adjust to new babies easily, quietly and without incident. If you are observant of your dog's behavior and take precautions to introduce dog and baby to each other gradually, while your dog is under control, you should be able to avoid accidents or troublesome incidents. Back to top
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