The birth of a baby or introduction of an older child into your home can be a very excitable but yet stressful occasion to all the family including the family dog.Some dogs take changes such as these in their stride and seeM little effected, while others have a much tougher time adjusting.
It is impossible to predict how any animal will adjust to having a child around, however there may be some developmental factors which you may be aware of that might give you a little insight into how your pet might behave.
How much exposure and interaction did your dog have to babies and children during his developmental stage?
In situations where he has been exposed to children, how did he react?Did he run away or show surprising confidence and playfulness?
If the dog has shown aggression towards a child in the past, it may be possible to design a behavioural treatment program.Treatment programs can never be guaranteed and take into account the exact trigger for the aggression.Was it due to a specific child, gender, age group, situation? Etc.
If your dog has had no or very limited socializing opportunities with children his exposure may lead to a fearful reaction, which, may be triggered by the sight, sound and smell of a new arrival.As long as there are no particularly unpleasant experiences during the arrival and first few exposures to the new child, there may be no problems and the dog might adjust quickly.This will help to get your new expanded family off to a good start.
With babies: Once your dog has got over the initial introduction of your new child, the next stage is to help him through your baby’s growth stages.At first the dog is able to adapt quickly to the child as the child just smells and sounds funny, but as the child grows and begin to become more mobile going from crawling to toddling, some pets have trouble adapting to these situations.Stress related behaviours such as flank sucking, obsessive licking, house soiling and chewing may become apparent.
Preparing for the new arrival?
Make gradual changes associated with a new baby over you pregnancy term.These changes may be routines for both yourself and changes to your pet. If you intend to move your dog’s bed or where he sleeps do it early on so he won’t associate it with the arrival of the child.This includes restricting access to certain areas of the house or on furniture.If you intend to continue allowing your dog access to all areas, let him follow you into the baby’s room so he can adjust to the new smells and layouts.Remember praise positive behaviours.
Polishing up on obedience skills is essential to allow you to have confidence in your dog’s responses when required.Any existing behavioural problems should be resolved before the arrival of your new baby or child.
Expose your dog to new stimuli associated with babies and children so he can become familiar with them.Tape/CD recordings of babies crying and playing will help as well as taking your dog for a walk beside a pushchair or you holding a doll wrapped in a blanket whilst going about your daily routine.
Any show of anxiety from your dog whilst being exposed to these stimuli will require more formal training and positive reinforcement.In time your dog will learn to cope with them and may even start to enjoy they’re presence.
As your dog begins to show confidence around the stimuli, gradually expose him, through short visits, to children belonging to your friends and family.During the exposure make sure everything is positive and fun.A suitable muzzle can also be used for added safety.With confidence, comes complacency.Ensure all interactions are supervised and every aspect of safety for the child considered.
Remember your dog needs time to adjust to changing situations especially when the change is a new child.Once your own child arrives, most of your time will go into the needs of the child, understandably, hence the importance of preparation.
The babies here!
Don’t panic and take your time in exposing your dog to the child.Make the meetings as positive as possible and maintain your training.As training results in reward it an excellent way of distracting your dog directly away from the child and at the same time rewarding him in the child’s presence.It can be a good idea to keep your dogs nails trim to help avoid accidental scratches.
In many cases dogs learn very quickly that when the baby is around its results in a lack of attention and even confinement for them, and they will respond by displaying attention seeking behaviours.In addition they learn that when the baby is around that’s when they get the attention.This perception must be reversed.Its not easy having a new baby and a dog, but every effort must be made to include the dog in suitable, rewarding activities whilst in the presence of the child, this will help the dog learn that all things positive occur when the babies around.
What if aggression is shown?
When our dogs show aggression it is always upsetting let alone when it’s shown towards our child.It is at this time that a risk assessment must be made immediately.Does the dog stay or go?Was the danger recognized, can it be prevented from occurring again?Did I do enough to prevent it? Where any injuries inflicted, if so to what degree?Some of the most common emotions which cause aggression towards children are, fear / aviodance,stress and possessiveness.In any situation where aggression we recommend that you seek professional advice from a behaviour councilor who will make an accurate diagnosis and help to determine the chances of successful rehabilitation through a treatment program.