When New Baby Meets the Only Child - the Family Dog

It is now time for the new baby to meet the only child you have had for five years, the family dog. There is a lot of trepidation as to how the two will get along. Take precautions but do not panic.

The family dog has been the master of his or her territory for quite some time. It is only natural that they become a little nervous at the presence of this new little creature coming into there kingdom. You have treated your pet as if it was almost human. They have been the center of your attention for a long time.

Depending on the temperament of your dog, the transition does not have to be much different than when the new baby is brought into a home with an older child. An older child also needs time to make the transition with a new baby. Your dog is no different.
As you would spend extra quality time alone with your older child to ensure that they still are an important part of the family circle, you need to give that same quality time to your dog. If your dog already spends time with other dogs and children and exhibits no negative behavior, than more than likely the baby will not make much of an impact.

If you are lucky enough to have your spouse or other help at home with you though first few weeks, than take turns sharing time between the baby and the dog. When one person is attending to the babies needs, than the other person can be playing in the yard with the dog or taking the dog for a long walk, which will benefit the both of you.

Having a newborn baby can be a very anxious time for any new parent, but try not to transfer that anxiety to the dog. The dog will automatically sense your anxiety and try to protect you from the baby. Try to stay as calm as possible so not to alert your dog that there may be danger. I know that it is easier said than done, especially when the mother's hormones are still trying to get back to normal.

Allow the dog to explore the baby. The dog may want to sniff the baby all over and lick him. This is not going to harm your baby, especially if your dog's physical health has been taken care of properly all along. Let your dog get acquainted with the baby so that they do not see the baby as a threat.

A baby's cry can often make a dog very nervous. When the baby is crying and the dog starts pacing, try talking calmly and reassuringly to the baby and dog. When holding the crying baby, reach down and pet the dog and let them know it is ok. This could take some time, depending on the pitch of your baby's cry.

Never ever leave the dog and baby alone together. Always make sure the baby is placed in an area such as a crib or playpen, if you need to leave both in the same room together. It is best if you can remove the dog to another area if possible. Be vigilant at not leaving them alone together. Too often you here of pets turning on infants when not supervised. Do not be one of these statistics.

This may be a time when your dog could use a little extra grooming; brushing the dog more than usual will greatly eliminate airborne hair from getting into your baby's hands or mouth. Also keep the dogs nails trimmed, to prevent accidental scratching.

Keep dirty or soiled diapers in an airtight container until you can dispose of them. It is sometimes natural for the dog to eat dirty diapers. This does not mean that your dog is acting out. The dog is only trying to keep his environment clean. The dog also maybe trying to protect the baby by this behavior, this is what they do with their young to protect them from predators sensing them.

If nothing seems to be working at making the adjustment contact your vet and see if they have any other recommendations. There are occasions when it is necessary to find your dog a different home. This may be rare but it does happen. Protecting your baby is your first concern now.

Normally introducing the new baby to the family dog is not that big a deal, it does however require a little extra effort and time divided between the dog and the baby and you should all coexist very well.