Introducing babies to dogs....?

Question

I delivered my triplets 2 1/2 weeks ago. The babies are currently doing fine. The two girls should be able to come home by the end of August. I am very concerned about how to introduce my golden retriever, Abby, and our cockier spaniel, Lady, to the babies. They can be very wild and I can't send them to pet care anymore because it has become too expensive. Any suggestions on how to introduce them to the babies????

Answer 1

If your dogs come inside the house: before you bring your newborns home, choose a part of the house that is just for babies e.g your bedroom or the nursery. and close the door to that area now. This will help the dogs understand that they don't "own" that part of the house anymore. Better still, make your dogs adjust to being "outside pets" this is by far the best way to protect your infants from the stronger, less gentle side effects of happy, excitable, wild, or protective dogs.

if you dogs are outside pets: fantastic the hard work is done :)

before babies come home: buy or find your dogs some new toys to keep them happy. Now would be a good time to advertise for some one to walk your dogs for you (get a teenager or neighbour with a dog if you can - they are cheap and cash in hand). Your dogs may not get the same attention once the infants come home, and they may feel sad or left out. Having toys to play with and daily exercise will help them deal with the lesser amount of attention.

the introduction: the best way to introduce babies and pets is to allow the pets to approach in their own way, in their own time. So have you sit down with the babies in the dog area (e.g. outside) and have your partner nearby hands free to help you, a baby or a dog should the need arise.

Now say nothing, and wait.

Every situation is different, but eventually the dogs will approach the infants and smell them and dog and baby shall learn about eachother instantly using instinct and caring.

Some dogs run straight at new borns and l**k them.

Others pretend like the newborns aren't even there for about half an hour before coming for a quick sniff.

Some dogs instantly protect the new members of the family, and stand guard.

Every dog is different, just as every bond between baby and dog will be different. If you let the dog do it in her own time, then she will be far more accepting of the change.

Answer 2

When we had our first baby, we had already had our dog for a year.  Our first baby was in the NICU for 2 weeks, and the NICU nurse advised us to do it like this.  Before bringing the baby home, we needed to bring one of his (disposable) blankets home and let the dog have it to get used to his scent.  Then, we were to bring the baby home, then I was to go and greet the dog first while DH carried the baby in.  That was because the dog was probably feeling neglected by me because I was preoccupied with the baby.  Then, DH could bring the baby in and hold him on the couch while the dog remained on the floor by him.  We allowed our dog to sniff him all over, but that's all.  After he sniffed, and only sniffed, we were to give him a treat and pet him a lot.  Just make sure you wash your hands (of course!) a lot.  

The key is to not neglect the dog.  Our dog did fine, and he was (and still is sometimes) a little on the wild side.  Now we have 4 kids (the oldest is 5), and our dog is just the gentlest, most submissive pet with the little ones.  He'll just let the babies and toddlers climb all over him.  We allow it because it is just play and he doesn't seem bothered by it.  We do put a stop to anything aggressive in our children's actions (tail-pulling, hitting, trying to ride him like a horse).  If the dog were ever to show any sign of aggressiveness toward our kids (my parents' dog does), we would send him straight outside, but he never has, not in 5-1/2 years.

Answer 3

Bring a blanket to the hospital and let the babies lay with it, and then bring it home later on for the dogs to sniff. The dogs will pick up the babies scent and will recognize it when they come home. Worked for me!

Answer 4

Something that really help me, even though it sounds kinda stupid let the dog discover the baby. I put our baby by the door in her car seat while i was a few feet away ( in case anything were to happen my husband had him on a long leash) we let our dog roam the house until she discovered something new by the door she went to the baby and smelled her and has loved her ever sense!

hope I helped!

Answer 5

The baby blankets, let her sniff them!! I have a wiener dog, who i will introduce my baby girl to!! I will let him sniff her blanket!! Well Good Luck and Congrats

Answer 6

bring home a blanket with the babies scent on it..

then when at home. dont let the dogs around them until they know they are there to stay..

wait a few nights before allowing the dogs to smell them..

Unless your holding them..on the couch then let the dogs smell their feet.

just introduce them gradually.

Answer 7

Congrats on triplets!!!!

We did slow introductions with our Golden Retriever and Siberian Husky.  We would let them come in on a leash and smell the babies things and get close (but not too close) to the baby.  We gave them a lot of praise and attention for doing the right things.  After a few days the Golden was golden...lol.  The Husky is still not allowed to come near the baby, but that's because he seems to want to establish rank.  Of course we never leave him unattended with the good dog either.  A trainer told me to be sure to give the dogs attention when you're doing things with the baby.  Like petting them with your foot while you're feeding a baby.  That way they won't feel that the babies are taking you away.  Good luck!

Answer 8

I was scared of the same thing and I have a 100lb labrador that is hyper and a barky cattle dog.  

I did a little bit more than the blanket, but same idea.  I took several things my daughter had worn, been wrapped in, spit up on, etc and bundled them in the car seat like a baby.  Then twice a day I would "practice" coming in the door with the carrier.  I would only let my dogs sniff the items once they had calmed down.

It worked.  They no longer jump on me when I walk in the door if I have the carrier.  They are very curious and have licked my daughter a few times but she didn't mind. Now they follow  baby everywhere.  At my feet when I feed her - next to her bassinet at night.  Good luck!