Use praise and treats to help the dog associate the baby with good things. Don't reward attention-seeking behaviour like barking, jumping and begging. Include the dog in walks and playtime with baby. Let the dog get used to the baby gradually and at her own pace.
Most dogs adjust to the infant within a few days, while others may take several weeks.
The baby should be introduced in a quiet room where the dog has few associations - not in a place where they usually sleep or eat. Hold the baby and allow the dog to sniff it. The dog will appear interested for a few seconds and will then lose interest. When they back away, praise them and give them a treat.
Some signs of aggression from your pet may include growling, snarling, barking, mouthing, biting, or showing teeth around the baby. This behavior is usually because your dog finds the baby unfamiliar and possibly frightening, especially if they did not receive socialization with children up to this point.
Dogs are extremely loyal members of the family and just like humans they can experience a variety of different emotions - including jealousy. This can especially be the case when someone new becomes a member of the family, such as a newborn baby and seems to get all the attention and affection.
Introducing your dog to your new baby will be a gradual process requiring patience and consistency but it will be well worth it. Remember, NEVER LEAVE YOUR BABY AND DOG TOGETHER UNSUPERVISED, even if you trust your dog.
Professor Ruffman states that this indicates the presence of empathy, meaning that the dogs subconsciously felt upset in response to the baby's distress. Canine behavior experts have also stated that dogs pick up on the energy around them and that the energy of a crying baby causes the dog to feel upset.
If your dog growls at your child he is sending a clear warning that he is very uncomfortable with the actions or proximity of the child. Be grateful that your dog chose to warn with a growl rather than going straight to a bite.
A common mistake is to expect your dog to love your baby just as much as you do. Give your dog time. The baby (along with the visitors, new routine, etc.) is a big change for your dog. If your dog seems to be acting especially aggressive toward you or the baby, speak to your vet as soon as possible.
Your pet may not only be feeling displaced but also overwhelmed by all the new noises and smells in the house. To help your dog and baby coexist, give him a treat when the baby cries, squeals or coos so he'll associate those baby sounds with something positive.
A dog's mouth carries a lot of germs, which can easily be passed to people. This is especially problematic for babies and immune suppressed adults. Both are at an increased risk of contracting infections and parasites from dogs. So, even though it may look cute, a dog licking a baby's face should not be allowed.
Have a friend or family member bring home a blanket that your baby has been wrapped in at the hospital. Allow the dog to smell the blanket and praise her as she is sniffing it. Give her a delicious treat and allow her to smell again. Repeat this a number of times until baby comes home.
In these cases, it helps to give dogs something else to do when the baby cries. It may be helpful to teach your dog to go to his mat and then reward him with a stuffed Kong to keep him there for a while, at least until the baby has chilled. Train your dog to go to his mat on cue and make the behavior extra fluid.
You can put your dog in a crate or play pen in your room.
Again using a tether here could be helpful for larger or more jumpy dogs. Make sure with either option, that you put the crate/playpen on the opposite side of the room to the baby in the bassinet.
While your baby is tiny, you will generally be able to keep them and your pets apart for most of the time. Keep pets out of the room they sleep in, and never let a pet share a bed with your baby. Always introduce your pets gently to a new baby. Dogs may feel jealous of a new baby when you first bring them home.
✔Praise and reward when your dog is next to your baby and doesn't lick them. ✔Redirect your dog's attention to a toy, chew toy, or puzzle toy. ✔Teach your dog to have a toy in their mouth when they approach your baby. ✔Be consistent with boundaries.
Dogs can hear, smell, and see babies, but they don't really know what a baby is, so it is shocking when dogs treat babies differently than adults. While your dog may not care much about adults, you might notice that your dog seems especially interested in babies.
Dogs can easily tell that babies are babies. Not only their size they can sense that these babies need more care and attention. Many dogs will become very protective over new babies and claim them as their own.
Generally, dogs will want to sniff the baby and may nudge the baby with their nose or even lick the baby. For the most part, unless the baby was born with a particularly weak immune system or other health concern, these actions are perfectly fine and are a normal investigation process for your dog.
'” When a dog has a strong pack drive and is tightly bonded with his family, it's only natural that he becomes protective of a new baby when he or she arrives. Canines are smitten with babies and can form strong connections because of the amount of time spent together.