Newborn and Lab

Hi J.-
I'm a veterinarian and behavior consultant, plus have had 3 dogs living with my daughter, who is two. My biggest advice is to fully establish "the rules" before the baby is born. That includes self control exercises for the pup, like a "wait" command before eating, going through doors, getting treats or toys. And basic leadership exercises like not being allowed on furniture or beds, and making the dog perform a command before getting anything she wants. It is really important that she respect you as a leader- to dogs, leaders eat first, go through doors first, sit above the rest of the pack, and control all resources (toys, food etc) I would recommend not leaving dog toys all over the floor- when this is done dogs think everything on the floor is theirs. Establish a toy box for the dog and give her one or two toys from it at a time. A "drop" command is also very helpful. To do this, start by offering a treat in exchange for whatever the dog has in her mouth, this way she learns when she gives something up, something better comes along.

As far as puppy mouthiness, she needs to learn that when she uses her mouth on people, all fun stops. Tell her "no" turn your back and ignore her, even if she jumps up, barks, etc. Leave the room if you have to. The lesson for your dog is that bad behavior makes people go away. This works much better than pushing the dog off, or getting into a physical battle over it. If you are consistent, the mouthing and nipping will stop, although it might get a little worse when you first start doing this.

I used a baby doll in a swaddle to teach my dog to stay off and out of my space. Use praise for calm behavior and offer an alternative, like a chew toy, where she can sit at your feet and get attention while you are holding the baby. When the baby arrives, try to only give the dog attention when the baby is present. This is a little counterintuitive, because it's much easier to give a dog attention without baby there. But is important for the pup not to see the baby as "competition" and have a positive association with the baby. Lots of exercise will help the pup be more relaxed- although this is tough with the exhaustion of a new baby, a puppy playgroup once in awhile or dog park. When people ask how they can help after baby arrives, suggest walking the dog for you! A tired dog is a much more well-behaved dog.

It takes a lot of management at first, but it will pay off. Hope this helps! A private trainer session once baby arrives could really be invaluable. Make sure to find someone who uses positive reinforcement and get references.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi J.,
My husband and I got a Vizsla puppy just before we got pregnant and had some of the same concerns. Jasper, will be nearly 1 year old when our baby arrives so we wanted to be sure we could bring a baby into the home without any fears. We became good friends with an instructor in the Great Salt Lake Dog Training Club, we joined the club for the Puppy Kindergarten and other show/obedience classes. when we found out we were expecting, the instructor told us to look at the website "Living with Kids and Dogs" (http://www.livingwithkidsanddogs.com/)there's a book as well. There are some pretty interesting ideas and good advice from the woman who wrote the book, on how to prepare your dog for a new baby and introduce a new baby into a family with a dog. We also use alot of Cesar Milan's ("The Dog Whisperer") methods and advice. I know there was at least one episode of "The Dog Whisperer" that was specifically about preparing your dog for a new baby before the baby is here, maybe you could look that up as well. Our Jasper has been alot of fun and I think in a way, having him has helped us get prepared for a baby, with the kennel training and potty training, having to get up with him every 2 to 3 hours in the beginning to take him potty, it was like having a baby. Now he is a well trined and well balanced pup and I think once he gets to know our little boy (due June 7th...wow, that's only a week away!) he will become his little protector. Good luck with everything.
R. M.

I think your a little more worried than need be. I'm thinking that about 80% of households with kids have dogs/puppies, you'll be fine!

We did a few things with our dog "Bear" that most people cringe (my mother hated it) when they think about it. When we brought home a baby (we have brought home 4 kids since we have had him) we would always get on Bear's level with the baby and talk to him like we would anyone else and say "Bear, this is (and say the baby's name)______" and repeat it a couple of times. Then while still on his level we would let him sniff and even lick (yes, lick--that's the part my mom didn't like) the baby's head as his way of greeting the newest one. We have also given him his one "safe" spot in the house. This is a place where the kids know that they are not to bother him when he is there. Have a rug or some area where if the dog goes, that is her safe spot and don't let the baby (or anyone else for that matter) bother her there. We love our dog and he has been wonderful for the kids to grow up with.
J. SAHM with 6 kids and one wonderful English Springer Spaniel.

We have two cats that we introduced to our little guy 20 months ago. Everything I found on how to introduce animals and babies mainley had to do with dogs, but we did it with our cats right away and it worked great. Have someone take one of the receiving blankets that the baby has been in home to the dog. Let her smell it and sleep with it. Also, when you get home with the baby for the first time, try to have the dog and baby meet on netrual ground. That way she doesn't feel like the baby just came in and took over. (Which essentially the baby does anyway, but whatever).
The only other thing I know of is what my girlfriend did when they were expecting their first. She had a baby doll and trained the dog that whenever the baby doll was being held, she couldn't jump up on the couch or the person. Hope this makes sense. Our cats seemed to adjust right away. Another thing I did was a month before the baby was born, I would play the sound of a crying baby so they got used to that noise. Even though your childs cry will be different, at least the dog wont be scared when she hears that high pitched scream for the first time. Good luck to you!

hi!

labs are the BEST w/ kids and babies. our lab adjusted so well to having a newborn in the house. he had to stay away from home while i was in the hospital too and did fine. we sent home clothing (hat, onsie) w/the babies scent on it for him to smell and sleep w/. that way he was used to her smell. when we got home, we allowed him to check the baby out, lick her toes and lay on the floor w/ the baby and either me or my husband. we show the baby to him every day for 'inspection' and he loves it. our yellow lab is 3 1/2 and still a big puppy. puppy class will help soooo much. since yours is so young, she may have some more whining or regress w/ behavior, but as long as you reassure her you love her and give her attention, she will adjust to the changes at home!

good luck! candace

I can only echo on here--but we had 2 dogs before my dd was born. (now 2) as we bought baby stuff, the dogs would sniff at it and then we would tell them "no" for the items they were not to play with or touch. We let them go in the nursery once when it was done to sniff around and see what was going on then sent them out and don't let them in there still...only now it is dd who tells them "out" if they come near her door.
We watch a lot of the dog whisperer and had just seen one where he talked about introducing a baby and so we let the dog sniff the carrier we brought her home in first then we let her sniff her blanket and then her feet. that was all the first day. the dogs never had a problem, my lab changed his sleeping position to the foot of the cosleeper instead of my dh's side of the bed (on the floor) he took on a protective role. we maintained the rules we had before with the dogs, when I found out I was pregnant we really got to 100% consistency of making sure the dogs had to wait to go outside until told, and to come inside too, we always make them sit first. if we are also going out, we go out first. when dd came along, she would go out before they were allowed to. It's the pack mentality and if you use that mentality with your dogs you won't have any problems. it's pretty funny to see an 80lb lab sit when a 22lb little girl tells him to, but he does. our mutt (we dont' know what he is) has also done great with dd. we've now added a cat to our pack and we all do great still using a similar introduction technique when the cat came along. GL!!

My sister got a golden retriever when she was pregnant. They have just as much energy and excitment as a lab. She took her to puppy school, and everything went well. One way she found to help the dog not be jealous of the baby getting all the attention, was that while she was nursing, she would have the dog lay at her feet, and my sister would rub her belly with her foot. That way, the dog learned to LOVE nursing time.

We, too, got a lab when I was about 3 months pregnant. He was about 6 months old when I actually had the baby, so I'm not QUITE in the same boat as you, but seeing as labs are babies until they're about 5 (lol), I just thought I'd reassure you- things will be fine. My lab was VERY cuddly with me before the baby came, and he was very sensitive of everything that was going on with me. He never showed much of an intrest in the belly either, but he knew for a week before I went into labor that something was happening- I wish I had listened to his cues, because it turned out that my baby's umbillical cord was too short and the contractions were hurting her and cutting off her air supply! So don't worry about the fact that she seems distant to your belly- she'll be fine when you bring your little one home. Our lab was so cautious of our daughter- he would get close, but he was afraid to touch her! LOL But every time she cried, he would give me this really reproachful look like "mom, why aren't you helping her?" So everything will be OK, I'm sure. Take care and good luck!

We have a dog, and she was a little over a year when we brought our baby home. When we got home, we let her sniff the baby and we made sure that the dog still got lots of attention and special treats, especially when she was being good sitting next to the baby. Our dog is a lab mix. Now our daughter is 15 months old (today actually!) and our dog (and cat!) are sooo tolerant of her. We went to the dog park yesterday, and our dog was to concerned about our daughter and protecting her to play with the other dogs! She is a great dog, and would even make a great babysitter, besides the fact she lacks the opposable thumbs!!! Anyway, just make sure the dog still gets attention and let the dog sniff the baby and be close to the baby. Hopefully it will work out fine...and congrats!!!

My husband had a teacup Chihauha before we wer together and she had problems adjusting to having me in the picture, so I was worried about about bringing our our daughter home. We chose one recieving blanket and wrapped baby in it the first night to get her sent on it and then sent it home to the dog. She didn't care for it at first, but we just put it in her favorite spot so that she had to sniff it and get used to it. That has been her balnket ever since!! We watched closely, of course, but allowed her to check the baby out on her own time. We did not force anything. She eventually jumped on my lap and sniffed her over and and although she had anxiety when she cried alot, she handled it better than we expected. And actually after she got used to the crying, would not let me let her 'cry it out" she would get more upset that I wasn't doing anything, more than an anxiety. After almost 3 years, we have had no bad experiences.
Good Luck!

I was worried about a similar problem, we had a dog and he was about 9 months old by the time I delivered. I had a pree mie so I brought a blanket home from the hospital first so he could get the scent so its not so foreign. He didn't care. He just ognored her for a long time. Just became protective3 when he saw hoqw protective we were. As a puppy I would think that it wouldn't hace a problem being moved down the food chain. Hope it all goes well for you.

J.

First of all congradulations!! When you get ready to bring the new baby home it can be a very easy transition for you and your lab. See my husband and I got a lab puppy and then got pregnant with our second child. We also play with our puppy and she was around other chilren including our 9 yr old. Now when we got ready to bring home our new baby girl we bought our lab puppy a couple of toys. We took both toys and placed them on the car seat and carried them in the house that way that way it will have the babies smell and will know that this is okay. Now leave the toys there and let your puppy smell them for the introducing of them to each other ( more for the puppy) then let the puppy take the toys and this should be helpful. Just remember that all dogs and puppies are different.

Good Luck and Take Care

C. R

When my oldest was born we were going through intense Canine training with our German Shepherd (tracking, sleeve work, hand signals, etc.). The trainer we worked with had been training dogs for 20+ years and strongly recommended that prior to bringing baby home, my husband bring home something with the scent of the baby, like a onesie from the hospital. This way they can get acquainted with the baby's smell and when you arrive home with the new little one the dog will recognize it. Let them smell it (maybe do this a couple of times) and talk to them while they smell it.

Fast forward 13 years....we just had baby #3 and now have yellow labs and used the same tecnique. Now that our little guy is 18 months, the dogs are bonded with him and they play so great together. It really helps in my opinion. Good luck!

what we did with our dog, we have a boxer bulldog mix, is we put some of our sons clothes near him. Let him sniff them. We also would lay a blanket out and not let him on it. We would put things that he would want on it, like a dog treat and we trained him not to be on the blanket. So when our son in on the blanket, he doesn't go near him at all.

We also took his receiving blanket before we left the hospital and took it home for him to sniff, with our sons scent on it.

Then the first day we brought our son home we took Jack (our dog) and laid him on his side, in a submissive state. Then we took our son and put him down by Jack and let him sniff him.

We never had problems with him. We never let our dog in our sons face, near his toys, or even in his room. We make it every clear that our son is more dominate than our dog.

Congrats on your new baby!

What I've heard is that it's best to give the dog LOTS of attention when the baby is in the room, and not much attention when the baby isn't. This way the dog associates the baby with something positive and doesn't get resentful. It's not difficult to do-- just call her over while nursing/bottle-feeding the baby and stroke her head, things like that. Also, we put gates up(metal, expensive, totally worth it--I think the brand is Gateway, not sure) in strategic spots so that when necessary our dogs could be made to stay clear. That said, the day I brought my daughter home from the hospital, I thought, "Oh no, I wish I didn't have dogs; how is this going to work," but it's worked just fine and got easier and easier as we've gone along, and I really couldn't live without my furry babies. Little ones take loads of energy, and dogs just give it back :) But give yourself time, set boundaries for the dog(my English Pointer got a pillow in the face when he charged for the bassinet on day 1--the baby's coos must've sounded like a squirrel to him--and he, unhurt, turned right around and never did it again). Good luck, and congratulations! Oh, and make sure when you or the baby enter or leave a room that your dog is not allowed to push ahead of you/him--this is a dominance thing--you and the baby go first, always.

treat her like a child. tell her mommy is having the baby and will be back. introduce her to the baby, relax, and have fun. as long as you're not ignoring the dog but treating her like part of the family, you'll be ok

J.,

Our daughter now almost two came into a house were dogs had been our babies for the better part of 9 nine years. They are both 'big' dogs and our female (Aiko) wasn't overly happy with little people. To help introduce Kendall to them my husband took home one of the hospital beanie she had worn when he went to visit them while they stayed at a friends. Then we came home and spent a day or two without them and again he visited with something she wore. When they finally met they knew something was going on, but since the baby is so little they really didn't have much contact. The only part to really worry about was keeping her on the floor with them in the house. But dogs are smart and catch on, now she bosses the dogs around (I call it her little power trip) and loves them with big hugs and kisses all the time. In a way I think her unconditional love for them (she'll ofetn go in and even read stories to them) has filled some of the void she created when they were bumped from being the babies.

It will all work out take care,
J.

J.-

My husband and I have two Samoyeds (the male is three years old and 85 lbs and the female is two years old and 50 lbs). We were worried some at first when we found out we were pregnant as we are very close with our dogs.

Our son is now almost 7 months old and the dogs love him! The three of them play and have a wonderful time. One thing we did when we first brought our son home was that my husband stayed in the car with the baby while I went in to say hello to the dogs. Then I went out and got the baby and brought him in.

The dogs got all of their excitement over me out before we introduced them to our little guy, Logan. Logan was just over 5 lbs when we brought him home and the dogs instintively knew to be very cautious with him.

I hope this makes you feel better!
Kim

I did not read all the responses so sorry if I repeat info. Our lab was a year old when our son was born. I kept her routine the same as much as possible-for instance, I put the baby in a front pack (and in dif packs/strollers as the baby got older)and was able to still walk the dog, I played fetch with the dog while the baby looked on from his bouncy seat etc...

The most important things I think I did-I started to prepare the dog early on-got the baby's room all set up, set up the bassinet, bought a baby doll and held it around the dog etc...

Before you come home from the hospital, have your husband bring home an item the baby was wearing for the dog to smell. When we entered the house for the first time, I gently tilted the baby down slightly while safe in my arms for the dog to sniff.

You have a lab which love children, and are known for their loving, gentle ways. Also, you are doing all the right things-all will be fine.

K.