How to prepare your pet for the arrival of that little bundle of joy

Many young couples are proud dog owners and think of their pets as their babies. The dog, as a surrogate child, is extremely important to the couple and considered a member of the family -- to be doted on and cared for. But as everyone knows, having a real baby changes everything. Life as you know it ceases to exist -- for humans and canines alike.

When new parents bring home baby, most are relieved to find that the family dog takes it all in stride, after a little adjusting. The dog doesn’t need much time to become accustomed to the baby’s smells and crying, and all the new furniture and baby stuff. But in most cases, the problems haven’t yet arrived.

When your little bundle of joy begins to crawl -- that’s when the dog starts to react to the baby. For several months the baby was no threat, it slept a lot and was always swaddled in someone’s arms or confined to its “cage” (from the dog’s point of view). Life had not changed much for Rover.

But now the baby has transformed into some kind of alien creature: part prey, part squeaky toy, and (possibly) part human, moving across the floor in choppy movements, squealing loudly, and knocking things over in its wake.

Around this time, the parents may hear a growl from Rover.

Obviously, when an animal is uncomfortable with a sweet little baby, it’s not a good situation for anyone involved. Many people are downright shocked by the change in their pet. But it is important to realize that the dog is not misbehaving on purpose. He is experiencing discomfort with this new creature, not sure what to make of it, and is confused. Take the dog’s behavior as information. Don’t take it personally, but do take it seriously.

Yes, hindsight is 20-20, but in truth the best course of action for Rover’s owners would have been to socialize the dog to babies when he was a puppy, and continue that socialization as he matured. Being proactive is always better than being reactive. If you buy a dog from a breeder, be sure to find out if the puppy has undergone such socialization to babies.

Here are some other things you can do to ensure a safe and happy home life for your baby and your pet:

• If your dog isn’t neutered, doing so can take the edge off.

• Keep up your dog’s exercise and social interaction with you. Brush up on some obedience commands before the baby arrives.

• Audio tapes of baby noises are now available to prepare your dog for new sounds. Start playing the tapes at a very low volume while feeding your dog treats or his meals. Gradually turn up the volume if you do not see signs of stress.

• Well before the baby arrives, you should condition the dog to being alone in the house while you’re there too. When our dogs are our “babies,” we don’t think twice about having them near us at all times. But this is not realistic with a baby, so your pet needs to learn to be in a room by himself. You can do area training and practice giving your pet special bones or food-stuffed toys only in his special place, which can also serve as a safe haven when he needs to escape the baby screaming or any other unnerving noise. Don’t always let your dog touch you when sitting together. He needs to be able to stand on his own.

• Keep your dog at a distance from baby for the first few weeks. Always be calm but happy when the dog and the baby are near each other. You want them to have positive interactions.

• Always supervise dog and baby at all times and maintain control. Period.

• Do not force the baby on the dog. Keep the baby under your close watch. Do not let your baby crawl or toddle over to the dog, which may scare the dog. Make sure your dog feels safe. The baby should never be allowed to pull ears or tails.

• The crawling phase leads to toddling, also known as running for a few steps and then falling down. This also makes the baby very unpredictable to the dog. This phase in your child’s development is also when toys and baby games will be all over the floor. Your dog cannot be expected to understand that a toy does not belong to him. He may also get upset or protective if the baby picks up an object he deems his. Again, prevention of problems is the best medicine. You cannot be too careful.

• Some dogs simply have serious trouble adjusting to a baby. They growl or bark, some may try to play with the baby like a toy or chase it like a squirrel. Other canines just seem to flip out and try to get as far away from the baby as possible. If a dog displays these behaviors, you need professional help. There are many behavior-modification and counter-conditioning techniques available to help change the dog’s experience of the baby. However, there are no guarantees. Each dog is an individual with his own genetic makeup and life experiences.

Equally important: The owners must be willing to work with the dog and manage the problems. This can be very difficult when the new parents are exhausted from caring for the baby. If the owners are not prepared for this, the dog may need to be placed in a new home.

Many new parents may not have any problems at all with their pets. But being prepared and realistic is always better than hoping things will turn out right. If you are planning to have a baby, start preparing your dog now. It’s never too early to lay the foundation for a happy and harmonious household.

Lisa Hartman is head dog trainer for Pawsitively Pets. You can reach her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or www.pawsitivelypetsonline.com. You can also keep up with her and her dogs on Facebook at www.profile.to/dogtrainer.

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