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And Baby Makes 3
Kids and Dogs and Problems, Oh My!

And Baby Makes 3

Baby’s homecoming should be a joyous event for everyone in the family. But unfortunately, the pitter-patter of little feet – not to mention the crying, chaotic schedules, and cranky parents that follow close on their heels – strikes fear in the heart of many a brave dog. Too many dogs lose their homes when, in a sleep-deprived haze their families decide that something has to give. But you don’t have to make such a heart-breaking decision if, while you plan for Timmy’s arrival, you help Lassie get ready too. Here are some important things to consider:

First and foremost, brush up on your dog’s skills: make sure his Stay stays put and his Come comes running the first time you say each cue. Make sure your dog responds to verbal cues so that when your hands are full he can understand your directions, but also remember to practice the hand signals so he can be successful when baby’s sleeping, too. And if your dog has ever, ever shown aggression or even discomfort towards humans of any age, consult a professional dog trainer or behaviorist now – before bringing up Baby takes precedence over training the family dog.

Babies bring all manner of new sights and sounds and smells with them when they arrive. Some of these stimuli will excite your dog, some will intrigue or possibly annoy him, and some may scare his little furry pants off! But all these things are a natural part of babyhood, and as such, they are not going to go away anytime soon. Help your dog learn to associate all things Baby with good things for him, rather than with chaos and change. Buy baby sounds CDs and make them the soundtrack to your daily routine: begin with the volume adjusted low so the sounds are just barely audible, and as everyone in the family becomes accustomed to the noise, begin increasing it until you reach the ear-splitting levels of real life. Also, as you begin setting up the baby furniture, introduce your dog to it in ways that teach him appropriate behaviors to practice once it is occupied by your little bundle of joy. And reward him for picking up toys or items that smell like him while directing his interest away from Baby’s things – but: remember dogs will always do what’s most rewarding to them at the time, so practice good housekeeping, too!

Teach your dog to enjoy a little “heavy petting” so that he remains comfortable when chubby hands pull and poke and pat. Firmly stroke his fur while offering him some tasty chicken. Gently tug on his ear while he munches on bacon. Let him slurp peanut butter off your palm while pull his tail this way and that. At the same time, teach your child gentle touches to share as he grows up alongside his new best friend.

Schedule changes confuse and disturb many dogs, so begin living your schedule as though Baby were home several weeks in advance of his arrival. Buy or borrow an appropriately sized baby-doll and practice feeding, changing diapers, and playtime so that your dog knows what you expect of him in each of these situations. Get up in the night, turn on the lights, and rattle around in the kitchen if you will be preparing bottles so that your dog doesn’t mistake you for an intruder. And think about how you will prepare your dog (and Baby, too) for your eventual return to work if that is part of your plan.

And finally, when Mom comes home from the hospital, have someone else carry the two-legged baby so she can properly greet her four-legged one! If she has had a difficult delivery, or if she has had surgery, leash Fido so Mom can enter safely and sit down before saying hello. And never, ever punish your dog around your child: your dog should see your child as just another wonderful human in his life; but if he receives punishment every time the little nipper comes out to play, he may become a little nipper (or, rather, biter) himself.

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Kids and Dogs and Problems, Oh My!

A house, two kids, and the perfect dog – it’s the American Dream, right? But dogs aren’t perfect and – newsflash! – kids aren’t either; so in order to keep that dream from turning into a nightmare, here are some simple rules and techniques every parent should know:

Having a dog in your home is a responsibility similar to having another child – and so, while it is perfectly reasonable for children to be given tasks aiding in the care of their new four-legged family member, the ultimate accountability for a dog’s well-being should always fall upon adults within the home. It is never appropriate for a child to have sole responsibility for a living, breathing animal.

When it comes to kids and their interactions with dogs, remember: supervise, supervise, supervise! Never leave young children alone with a dog, and never, ever leave even the best-behaved dog alone with a baby or small child. Humans and dogs communicate differently – and sometimes that difference can lead to painful encounters for both the two-leggeds and the four-. Ensure harmonious interaction with your presence!

Speaking of communication: many signals, both verbal and non-verbal, used within human culture just don’t translate well into dog-speak. For instance, while hugging and head-patting come naturally to humans, in canine culture both of these actions are considered unspeakably rude – even though some dogs learn to tolerate our man-handling! By the same token, in canine language, teeth are often used as punctuation of sorts, and are accepted in much the same way; but our tender human skin isn’t as forgiving as tough doggy-hide. Learn appropriate human-canine communication skills, and then teach all of your family members, both two-legged and four-, to be bilingual, too.

Dogs should be trained to see all humans as leaders, not littermates. As hard is this concept may be for young humans to understand, though, how difficult must it be for your dog? You can help out by involving your child in every step of the training process, from handling and grooming to teaching simple cues. Teach your child gentle, effective, and age-appropriate handling and training techniques; then back her up by standing near her when she’s working with your dog, and quietly repeating and reinforcing her hand signals and cues so that your dog learns to respond correctly to even the most pint-sized leader!

Not all dogs enjoy the hustle and bustle that comes with a houseful of children, and indeed your dog’s perception of your child and her friends may be quite different from your own. Make sure your dog has a private place where he can retreat when the activity level begins to overwhelm him. Explain to your child that when the dog is in “his room” he is not to be disturbed – just as she wouldn’t want to be disturbed when she is resting or playing quietly.

Finally, dogs are not toys: they are living, thinking, moving, and feeling animals, and should be treated with love, kindness, tolerance, and respect. The lessons your child learns about this important relationship now – during her formative years – will stay with her for a lifetime. Help her to build healthy relationships and happy memories: these are the building blocks for future success!

For more information on raising mixed-species families, please read the book Living with Kids and Dogs… Without Losing Your Mind, by Colleen Pelar, CPDT. And if a problem presents itself remember this: dog training is cheaper than emergency room bills! Get help from a qualified professional early, and you won’t regret it later on down the road.

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Links

Local Training Links

KCDOGTrainers.com

Dog 101 Productions

National Training Links

The American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Program

Truly Dog Friendly

Dogs&Storks

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