Here’s a really good way of managing the introduction of your brand new baby and your beloved dog…

Your dog and the new mum will want to say a proper hello to each other, so ensure somebody else carries your baby into the house for the first time. It’s natural for your dog to show excitement at this point – he’s just pleased to see mum back home again! Just make sure that the baby is taken to another room while mum and dog say their hello’s.

After this initial greeting, encourage your dog to calm down.

If you want more advice on how to introduce babies to dogs, go to Managing Dogs And Babies At Home

Make sure that your dog is fully relaxed and at ease before introducing your baby into the room. Reward your dog for being calm and obedient. Ensure that your dog remains leashed, and there is a good distance between him and the baby – preferably at opposite ends of the room. Talk to your dog quietly and in a calm voice as your baby is slowly brought closer to him. It’s essential that this process is not rushed, and is done in a positive happy atmosphere. Should your dog show any signs of anxiousness or aggression, calmly but immediately remove him from the situation. Don’t try to reassure your dog by talking to him in a soothing tone and stroking him – he will interpret this as being confirmation that his anxious behaviour was correct. Rather, tell him ‘No’ in a firm tone, then remove him from the room until he is able to stay relaxed.

Keep your dog on the leash at this point. When he is totally calm, you may allow your dog to briefly sniff the baby. Keep praising him for remaining relaxed and attentive to your instructions to ‘Sit’ or “Lie Down’.

For more information on how to introduce your dog and baby to each other take a look at How To Prepare Your Dog To Meet The New Baby

Gradually lengthen the amount of time that you allow the dog to be close to the baby. Once you can see that the dog is capable of maintaining a calm state in the babys prescence, you may consider unleashing him, but only if there is another adult there to help you supervise. It may be worth muzzling your dog the first time he is let off the leash around the baby. Ensure your dog gets lots of one-on-one attention from the family members over the coming days – this will help him see the babys arrival as having lots of positive consequences for him. Make sure that, if you are going to be alone with your baby and dog at home, either you tether up your dog to a large piece of furniture, or you use a baby gate to provide a physical barrier between your baby and your dog.

Under no cirumstances should you ever leave a dog and a baby alone unsupervised – not even for just a few seconds.

I hope you have found this article useful – why not have a look at another of my articles on introducing dogs and babies at Preparing To Bring Your Baby Home To Your Dog