Introducing baby to dogs

[Njkoren]

My wife and I are expecting our first child in the next couple weeks. We have two dogs a gsp and a beagle.

 

Of course we have heard about bringing home the blanket to give them the scent before bringing home the baby, but can anyone elaborate on this process. What have you done or not done?

 

My only fear is that they are going to be so fired up when we finally come home that they will be all over us. They are good dogs and completely friendly but even when we go to the store and come home they shoot out of the crate to greet us in a very excited way.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Shortfuse]

Congrats Nick

[not on the rug]

We brought or baby home and sat on the floor with here and let the dog sniff her.  He didn't really pay her much mind. Now she is 2.5 and the dog is her best friend.  A well-trained dog should treat all people with the same respect, boundaries, etc.  Whether it is a 5 day old, 5 month old, 5 year old or 50 year old.  My beasts are always gentle around humans.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  

 

Congrats, btw

[Haskell_Hunter]

The dogs will know that the baby is part of the pack.  However, it's always best to keep an eye on both the baby and the dogs when they are together.

 

Had two dogs before we had kids, and never had a problem.  The female dog we had was territorial, but she knew her place in the pack.  She got reminded a few times, but we never had anything more than some snarls and barking.

 

Reinforcing the dogs' behavior around the baby and letting them know the pack order is always helpful.

 

You start with this:

 

 

And then you eventually get to this:

 

[Killshot]

I had a nightmare on my hands when we brought our twins home 2.5 years ago. I have an overly rambunctious friendly gooldendoodle (110lb) and slightly aggressive english bulldog (75lb).

 

Putting any baby, let alone one that was 4lbs and one that was 6lbs near the dogs scared the hell out of us. 

 

We did the blanket smell, baby doll, etc prior to coming home.

 

Once home we gated off our living room with the heavy duty screw in type and introduced the dogs individually over the course of 8 weeks or so everyday in 30 minute increments. Basically a conjugal visit so to speak.

 

Today, the golden is the kids best friend, the bully tolerates them. At this point we have achieved a relatively peaceful coexistence.  

[Njkoren]

Thanks for the info and congrats guys. Going to sure up some obedience training and use some physical barriers.

 

I put a screen door on the nursury already to keep them out of there but still be able to see and hear whats going on.

[not on the rug]

Remember, a lot of dog training is actually dog psychology and working with the animal's own instincts. If you act weird around a dog, it will act weird around you.  If you act calm and assertive, the animal will act calm and assertive.  If you start acting nervous every time the baby is around, it will freak the dog out for sure and the dog will think that it has to be nervous around the baby too.  

 

Obviously get your obedience in place asap.  that should be a given.  When i say jump, my dog says how high.   

[NURSEhunter]

Although I don't have kids yet, I feel it's coming soon. I'm so curious how my 3 dogs will do. I did get quite the laughter when we introduced the 2 labs , and 1 pit bull to a 6 week old kitten my wife rescued. Everyone said "watch your pit bull it will snap at any moment blah blah blah.".. they were scared if it first now they all share the same bed at night . I feel like my dogs since I raised them alpha pack style with everything from feeding order to going outside they will be good

 

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[stratocaster]

The dogs will know that the baby is part of the pack.  However, it's always best to keep an eye on both the baby and the dogs when they are together.

 

Had two dogs before we had kids, and never had a problem.  The female dog we had was territorial, but she knew her place in the pack.  She got reminded a few times, but we never had anything more than some snarls and barking.

 

Reinforcing the dogs' behavior around the baby and letting them know the pack order is always helpful.

 

You start with this:

 

Photo_232.jpg

 

And then you eventually get to this:

 

Photo_871.jpg

And I thought I was the only one who had a closet that looked like yours. LOL  That is a great pic with the dogs just lying there.

[Shootemandmountem]

Congrats to you and the misses!

[vdep217]

I have a lab and rotty. The lab will smell baby name maybe a lick or two. My rotty is very protective of babies, although one day she was putting her nose into my nieces stomach who was 8 months at the time we couldn't figure out what she was doing until she has her toy the next day. She was using her nose to squeak the toy turns out she was trying to squeak the baby lol. Now at 2 my niece still get squeaked when she comes over

Edited March 11, 2017 by vdep217

[bigfish525]

The only dog I would trust with my baby is a Lab.Who wants to be wrong with some of these breeds.

[not on the rug]

The only dog I would trust with my baby is a Lab.Who wants to be wrong with some of these breeds.

Fact: Labs bite more people than all other breeds. It's not the dog breed, it's the owner and how they raise it.

[bigfish525]

Oh Please! I have seen the 85 stiches a Great Dane did to a kid. You guys are kidding yourselves with this crap its how they are raised. The facts are there are just dangerous breeds that should not to left alone with kids.Hey its your kids and you have to live with what can happen. As far as Labs, I have bred them for years and I know they as the most family friendly dog out there.

[Haskell_Hunter]

Oh Please! I have seen the 85 stiches a Great Dane did to a kid. You guys are kidding yourselves with this crap its how they are raised. The facts are there are just dangerous breeds that should not to left alone with kids.Hey its your kids and you have to live with what can happen. As far as Labs, I have bred them for years and I know they as the most family friendly dog out there.

 

You do realize that pit bulls used to be the dogs you'd leave your kids with over all other breeds.  Petey on the Little Rascals was a pit bull.  It is unquestionably about how they are raised, conditioned and trained.