Introducing new born to dog

[Euan]

As title says me and my partner are due our first new born very shortly, we have a 26 month old lab, she has been my sidekick from 9 months, she is also our first and is very settled in the house and is great around small young children.
I understand the don't leave them both unattended or alone together.
But Is there any tips, do's and don't when we eventually bring the wee one home into the dogs life and environment?

Cheers

 

[long_range_rob]

In my experience bitches bond with little ones really well but obviously take care yourself.

 

[Mud Stuffin]

We had a dog that wasn’t very good with children he wouldn’t lunge but would bark and growl at them. When we brought our first born home I had him on the lead and introduced them to each other while the baby was in the car seat but out of the car. I got the dog to lie down and allowed him as close as sniffing a foot with my hand covering the foot and the other holding the lead with about a cm of slack so as not to transfer tension through the lead. If anything would have happened my hand was protecting the foot and I would have been between them in an instant with my wife removing the carry car seat. He did growl so that was as far as we went and removed him from the area instantly. Over the next couple of months he understood that this “thing” was here to stay so would watch from the other side of the room but they were never alone in a room together. Eventually he learnt that this “thing” was a new source of food especially when it came to “its” feeding time so pitched camp under the high chair and that’s how they bonded. I think he also eventually worked out that this “thing” was a younger member of the pack and needed looking after because on two occasions while playing a squeal came out of the child and the dog let me know he really wasn’t happy with me. My wife was a bit shocked that he’d told me off as he was definitely “my” dog. I didn’t scold him as he’d done exactly what I’d want him to do in a situation where he thought my child was being hurt. The downside of this is that you really really must watch them when they are playing with other children invade there is a squeal or there is ANY unusual behaviour from the dog when children are playing - not necessarily barking, growling or chasing but staring, pacing doing figure of eights between the children anything unusual remove the dog from the area and ignore anyone who says “leave him it’s ok he’s not doing anything” you know your dog and trust your gut - it’s unthinkable if it something happens. On the flip side children should learn to respect dogs and that if the dog is in its bed to leave it alone. As children get bigger they can help feed the dog and join you for walks (if you haven’t already carried your child round on some dog walks). However, no matter what happens, if it doesn’t happen instantly your child and your dog will have an amazing bond and any child that grows up with a dog will learn what special relationship that dogs have with humans.

 

[Len the dog]

When you’re baby is born, bring a blanket or similar home from the hospital with the baby’s scent on it and let your dog have a good sniff, then when you bring your new addition home the dog will be familiar with it.

 

[Beretta V]

We have a cocker bitch and were in your situation.
We made sure we gave her plenty of attention as we were told dogs can funny with babies.
I made sure that she was included in everything, when family came round we made them say hello to the dog first etc.
Our dog accepted our son and actually in the morning she goes to see him first, when we come back from anywhere she goes to him first.
They are best of friends and it’s lovely to see their bond.
The problem I have is my son is 9 and my dog is 13.5. I know that she could go on for another year or two but she really has slowed down.
It will break my heart as they are so close it’s going to hurt him.
The other thing was one of my nephews really couldn’t get use to her. We put up a child gate. They could see each other and after a while he would go and see the dog. We never pushed anything and now he is fine with her so she is let around the house.
I think patience is the key and let your dog naturally grow to accept your child

 

[T.eddie]

When my daughter was born the dogs were only allowed to come and sniff her while I held her for a minute or so, then they were told to move away. This I gradually increased until I would then get her hand and stroke the dogs with it etc. While eating the dogs weren't allowed under her highchair or on the blue plastic mat thay goes under it to protect the floor. This was to create boundaries.
We also walked the dogs with the pram prior to the babies arrival to get them used to that.
Now they are good as gold with her one dog is 12 the other is 3 and my daughter is 2