How can I introduce my new baby to my two dogs?

[Kaleena Allen]

My due date is in 2 days and I am starting to feel some anxiety about introducing the baby to my two dogs. I have a 10 1/2 year old alaskan malamute/sheppard cross, and a 2 year old black lab. The malamute has been around infants in the past, but not for about 5 years. She is always very curious about babies and loves being near them, so I am not too worried about her. The black lab has been around a 2 year old before and she was unusually calm around the baby. My fear is that the 2 dogs together get very worked up. They both listen very well when separated, but if you put them together they go crazy and do not listen very well. They also enjoy play fighting, running throughout the house, and sleeping on the furniture (so much for discipline!). I am worried that I waited too long to prepare them and the homecoming will be stressful for everyone! Help!

 

[DeeDawg]

you should have started training your dogs long before your due date. but you knew that.

keep them separated, if you must. never allow them direct contact with your baby. your dog does not know that your baby isn't a funny looking squeaky toy, and you don't want to take that chance. that wiggling little bundle of kid is certainly going to look like a smelly stuffed animal to them.

have your SO bring back a soiled diaper, a blanket that the baby has slept in, and other things that smell like baby home from the hospital before you come home.

the SO should let the dogs smell these things, and pet them and give them treats for being calm around the baby smells.

(if the dogs try to chew open the poopy diaper, have no fear, dogs are attracted to baby poop because of its high nutrient content. disgusting, but explainable. having that been said, i hope you have a diaper genie.)


take your dogs for lots of walks with you and baby in stroller!! your dogs will come to think of baby as the "walk-bringer" and that's a VERY good thing.


you never introduce the dogs and the baby- you only introduce the dogs to the baby's sounds and smell. that's all they get. no face-to-face meetings.