Introducing Your New Pet to Your New Baby

Introducing a new pet into the family with a newborn in the house isn't usually suggested but if those cute puppy eyes have melted your heart, there are some things to consider to make the transition go smoothly.

Concentrating on the safety of your child, the local humane society is going to be your safest bet for finding the right dog to bring home. The humane society will have the dogs history and training. They will also be able to answer necessary questions you need to ask. If the dog that you are in love with has ever shown aggression to strangers, children (familiar or not) or small animals it is best not to have him in the home.

Try to pick a dog that has been crate trained and has gone through obedience training. Have a crate ready to use before you bring him home. The crate can be used if the dog gets too excited around the baby or making sure that the baby and dog are not left alone together. Do your research on proper crate techniques so you know that you are doing right by your dog.

A new family and home is a very exciting thing for a dog. New sites, smells and sounds. Training needs to start the second you get him home. The new pup will have an easy time doing this with some fun toys and treats.

Start by setting boundaries for the dog. Let him know what is off limits like the baby and the baby's room. Dogs have a great sense of smell and do not need to be in the baby's face to get familiar. If you let the dog in the babies face, you are setting the ground work for bad behavior habbits.

A common way to train the dog boundaries with baby is to take a doll and wrap it in baby's blanket or dress it in baby's clothes that have been used. Lay the doll on the floor but do not allow the dog near it using a basic "leave it" command. Toss your friend a treat each time he does it right. To help him get the hint, use body blocking to get the point across. Put your self firmly between the dog and the doll and make him move back. Once the dog is trained in this, you can introduce the two when both are in a calm state. If you have concerns about your new dog and the new baby together in the same room, you can always use a lead or leash to help control how far he can get during the training and introduction period.

Always keep your child's safety in mind first. Taking on a new dog with a newborn in the house is a lot of responsiblity and a life time commitment. Training your new dog obediance and boundary commands and keeping the dedication will set the stage for a calm loving environment for everyone.