We are 6 days from my due date and with hospital bags packed, are as ready as we will ever be. But what about Murph Dog, I'm not sure our 2 year old Goldendoodle even knows what changes lie ahead in our pack. I get the feeling he has an idea, as he's been even more cuddly with me lately, and of course I talk to him about becoming a big brother. I know he's a dog, but he is a child to us and so call me crazy, but we do consult him on family matters (he agrees with me that daddy should clean out the garage this weekend, for example).
We've asked friends with spoiled dog-children how they handled the dog meet baby situation and have done some reading on canine behavior to best prepare ourselves and Murphy for the arrival of the baby. Below is some of the specific advice we've received. It sounds to me that if you love your pet and make sure they know they are still an important part of your family then all should be okay. Also, don't be a moron and leave your pet with your new baby, they need time to adjust and demonstrate appropriate behavior around the baby consistantly.
One piece of advice I thought was worth calling forward is that its ideal to have your dog stay in your house while you rush off to the hospital. The more their routine stays in tact, the better for them. Secondarily, if you have a friend who can take your pup, that works too, especially if your dog has spent time at your friends house in the past. Kenneling your dog while you are in the hospital is a last resort plan, particularily if they are not used to being caged, I mean kenneled (remember, my dog sleeps in my bed, so I am not keen with the idea of a kennel, and consquently, I have a very spoiled dog who considers sleeping fully stretched across our bed as his Divine Right).
Introduction - popular vote is to have either the hubby or a family member who Murphy knows bring home one of the baby's blankets from the hospital before we bring the baby home, so Murphy can familiarize himself with the smell. Someone actually suggested bringing home one of the baby's soiled diapers…that’s gross, and I imagine the same person brought their placenta home to bake placenta brownies or use to fertilize a tree. One more person to take off my Christmas card list I guess.
Sleeping arrangements - Murphy sleeps in our bed with us and we have a bassinet set up right next to my side of the bed. We'll keep Murph in our room, maybe he'll get demoted to the floor to establish pack hierarchy with the baby. We'll just have to see how that goes. From what we've read, the dog and the baby should not sleep together in the same room unattended, and its also important not to change too much of the dog's routine lest they become jealous and resent the baby.
Play time - Without a doubt the dog and the baby should not be left alone together until Murphy consistently exhibits appropriate behavior around the baby (like fetching his bottles, and learning to change his diapers…have I mentioned that our dog is exceptionally smart?). I was especially concerned with Murphy taking baby toys, since they look so much like dog toys, until a friend suggested putting both dog and baby toys in a basket and letting Murphy choose which ones he wants to pick up, then correcting him when/if he goes for a toy with the baby's scent on it. Our obedience trainer gave us similar advice, that if you want to train a dog, "set him up" so that you can correct his bad behavior.
Teaching the baby - from the time you bring them home, babies are learning how to communicate, our vet says its never too early to start saying "be gentle" to the baby, even if you have them wrapped up in a blanket burrito style. If you are diligent, its to be expected that by 9-12 mos old the baby will have learned to pet gently rather than pulling the dogs hair, or slapping it on the head.
Basically the idea is to let the dog know that they are still an important part of your family, at the same time introducing a new baby who is ahead of the dog in pack order. General rules of thumb are not to leave the dog and a newborn alone together, when the baby starts to crawl, watch the baby carefully around the dogs food bowl (so that they don't eat the dog food and so that the dog doesn't become overly protective of his food).
None of our friends had a problem assimilating the dog and baby, and in most cases the two have become the best of buds.
