Your baby is NOT a family member to your dog!

A new baby is one of the top reasons that dogs end up in rescue centres. 
Of course, if you are on this site, you most definitely do not want to be one of the statistics that follows this route. 

There are four stages to preparing your dog to bringing home baby.

Stage 1
Training and Routine

Stage 2
Preparing for Alien

• There are multiple elements to a baby that your dog will find weird, and by preparing your dog, allowing them become familiar with these elements, and teaching them how to behave appropriately around the baby NOW, when the real baby comes home your dog will know how to cope.
• Sound.
  Start off early familiarising your dog to the sound of a baby crying.
  Start off with the volume on low, and provided your dog remains calm and happy, gradually increase the volume.
• Sight.
  Now's the time to head off to the toy shop and purchase your practice baby!
  Begin carrying the doll around like a real baby. 
  Talk to the doll like you will the new baby (this may be the voice you use for your dog, so your dog needs to learn this voice is no longer for them).
  Change the doll's nappy, dress them, rock them to sleep, and provided your dog is calm, begin pairing the sound with the sight.
  
• Smell.
  Once the baby is born you have a small window of time to get your dog familiar with the smell.
  Take dirty (yes, poopy) nappies and worn baby grows home from the hospital, and pop the (sealed) dirty nappy in to the doll's baby grow.
  Practice your introductions from stage 4, and allow your dog time to get used to the smell of the nappy with the safety of using the doll.

Stage 3
The Big Hello

• You can only truly introduce your dog and baby once, so make it a good one.
• Initially carry out the introductions with the doll, so that if your dog is going to make a mistake they will do so with the doll.
  
• Set up.
  Place the car seat with the doll in it on the kitchen table.
  Sit facing the car seat so that your arms form a circle barrier around the seat.
  
• Dog
  Invite your dog into the room once you are in the above position.
  Allow them to smell near the carseat but not stick their nose into the carseat.
• Real hello
  Once your dog loses interest of the car seat and settles down, take the doll out of the car seat,
  Stay sitting at the kitchen table as you can form barriers easily.
  While your doll is wrapped in a blanket, call your dog over. Allow them sniff and investigate.
  PRAISE your dog at all times while they are behaving in a way you approve.
  
• Bringing Home Baby
• Allow mum to come in and calmly say her hello's first. They can greet in another room while a second person brings baby into the kitchen and gets set up.
• Mum can then calmly bring your dog into the kitchen and repeat the above with the real baby.

Stage 4
Micro management

• NEVER allow your dog free access to your baby for the first six months. Dogs do silly things, they bark , they may scratch, and they do not yet know that your baby is not a toy.
  THEY DO NOT NEED TO BE BEST FRIENDS STRAIGHT AWAY!
• Do not allow your dog on the couch or bed at the same time as your baby.
  They are likely to sleep on the couch, and for the instant between sleeping and waking, a dog cannot think straight and will very likely bite (this is how baby Jeremiah died).
• Always ensure your dog has the option to escape.
  Babies crying can be distressing for dogs. Ensure they can leave the room.
• Have a quiet safe zone for your dog to go to (cozy utility room or spare bedroom) where you can put them when guests call, mums tired, or baby needs extra attention.
• PLEASE never ever ever set up a staged photo shoot for your dog and your newborn.
  This is highly stressful for your dog, which puts your baby at risk.
• If you every see ANY guarding behaviours from your dog around your baby you need to seek professional help. URGENTLY.
  
  

For more tips, video footage and further guidance you can purchase our Is Your Dog Expecting Your Baby DVD.
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