How to prepare your dog for baby
The Naked Dog has a special protocol for getting your dog ready for your newborn to arrive! If you are expecting to be expecting anytime during the life of your dog, it isn't too soon to start laying the foundation you'll need to make your dog a great big sibling!
Bringing a baby into the family is a very special time. The house is full of love and wonderment for this new tiny human. Your dog is also going to be very interested in this new addition. Its important to establish safe boundaries with your dog so they know that the baby requires respect and space. The purpose of this class is to help show you how to implement boundaries and personal space, practice calm walking with the stroller, claiming your babies scent, introducing your dog to the baby and keeping all interactions calm.
Boundaries and Personal Space
Your space is important, no sitting on you or leaning on you.
Dog must be able to back away when asked.
Have a good “go to your bed” or “place” command
No dogs in the nursery
No following you around the house when you go form room to room (anxious energy).
Must stay put in the vehicle, no running from window to window.
No jumping on you!
Making Everything on Your Terms
Showing your dog that your the leader of the pack (family unit)
“Sit” and “Wait” for; Food, Doorways in and out, Exiting the crate, loading and unloading from the vehicle.
Petting and cuddles is on your terms, no letting your dog force cuddles on you.
No jumping up on the couch or bed unless invited up, if they jump on their own they have to get down and lose that privilege for a while. This is important! Don't want your dog accidentally jumping on the baby!
Walking with the Stroller Before Baby Arrives
No Pulling on leash!
No walking in front of or beside the stroller, must stay back behind handle bars with you.
Do not clip dogs leash to the stroller, have leash looped in your hand.
Know where your stroller brakes are and get comfortable using them quickly.
The more you can practice with the stroller before baby the better! Lets your dog feel like part of the pack (family) when yall all get to go on walks together.
Claiming Your Babies Scent
Done the day before baby comes home.
Receiving blanket or swaddle blanket, something with mom and babies scent is best but at least it needs to have the babies scent on it.
Dog must be calm for this interaction and shouldn't sniff if too excited.
Sniff from a distance first, if your dog is calm than reward with a “good, ‘dogs name’” and a “good, easy” or “good, calm”
We want this to be a happy experience but not an overly excited one so the dog understands this is a good smell but calm.
Only touch sniff for a few seconds if your dog is behaving calmly and reward the calm. No touch sniff if they are pushing you to smell and especially no licking the blanket (If too hyped then go for a walk and try again for a calm sniff after).
After a minute or so then take the and put it away and out of reach of the dog, keeping the mindset of “this is mine and you must respect it”.
After they got a good sniff and behaved well for it than take your dog for a good walk or fetch session, something rewarding and that they enjoy.
The Day Baby Comes Home
Have Help for this one! - Get your dog out on a nice long walk or hike, really get them tired and relaxed before you get home. This is where a family member, trusted dog walker, or friend comes in handy.
Dad goes in to greet the dog first, keep the energy calm, let out to potty if need be, mom and baby are waiting patiently in the car.
Dad and Mom trade places so mom can greet dog alone first, this will be exciting for your dog so really try and nurture the calm energy. Your dog will realize that things have changed right away by the way you smell. (Dogs are very intuitive and have great senses of smell when it comes to pheromones)
Mom puts dog on leash
Dad brings baby inside while mom keeps dog calm by walking around dad and baby until dog shows total calmness. (This might take a little bit, and that's ok!)
Keep striving for and nurturing the calm energy
Once dog is calm then he can have a sniff greeting of babies feet while your saying “easy” and “good, ‘dogs name” nice and slow and low tone of voice.
No Licking! (especially no hands or face licks at this newborn stage)
Keep these first interactions short and peaceful. Once dog as had a good feet sniff then walk away again, showing dog that baby needs space. After a few minutes they can have another little sniff once baby is out of car seat.
Your dog can drag the leash around for a first day if that helps to be able to quickly stop any pushy greetings.
This is where having that solid “go to your bed” or “place” command really helps, ask your dog to give you and baby space and be able to watch from a distance.
Don’t Forget About The Dog
The first few weeks with baby is an especially exhausting time for mom who is recouping and recovering, have help with your dog already lined up.
Daily walks, fetch sessions, or play toys is important to help keep your dog exercised and not feeling like they have been replaced. Again this is where family or friends and a trusted dog walker can come in handy!
Once mom is up to it, a stroller walk is a great way to make the dog feel like they are part of the pack(family), and since you have been practicing with the stroller this is not a new experience for your dog so that added stress is now not a problem.
Boundaries and Personal Space for the Baby
No dogs in nursery.
No dogs between you and the baby, it should always go “You- Baby- Dog” or “Baby- You- Dog”
Watch for signs of dog taking ownership of baby; laying next to all the time and following around house, growling or being reactive to new situations or people around baby.
When it comes to photos of baby with dog; 1) Always be present. 2) Don’t force it on dog if they look uncomfortable.
Helpful Tips
Get a sign for the door, “Please do not knock or ring bell, sleeping baby, call or text if important”
Easy to order one off Amazon or Etsy, lots of cute options!
Let any company who want to come visit the baby know to text you when they arrive so you can make sure to get dog situated and calm for interaction.
If your worried your dog will bark at the sound of a crying baby try finding a video on youtube of a crying baby and play the video for your dog, correct any barking or unwanted behavior.
Lastly, Haley is available for private sessions to help with any dog issues before or after baby arrives, just reach out!
