So far your only child has been the dog. But when family circumstances are about to change, how will your dog react?
Introducing a new baby into the household requires a little common sense. The most important thing is to prepare your house and dog in advance for the new arrival to avoid problems (and heartache) later.
How is my dog likely to respond to a new arrival?
There are so many different variables that it is impossible to accurately predict the way that any dog might get along with children.
Socialisation is the process during which a puppy develops relationships with other living beings in its environment. If a puppy has been exposed to babies and young children in the first 2 to 4 months of life, in a non-fearful situation, then this will reduce the possibility of the development of irreversible fears, leading to timidity or aggression. How has your dog previously reacted to babies or children? The most serious concern is the dog that has previously reacted aggressively or fearfully with children. If there have been previous problems you should consult with a veterinary behaviourist.
A lack of early socialisation to children may lead to some initial anxiety or fear associated with the sights, sounds and odours of the new child. If there are no unpleasant experiences when the child first arrives, and the first few introductions are made positive, there may be no problems.
As your child grows, your dog may have trouble adapting to the changes. Fear, dominance challenges, possessive displays, and playful behaviours could result in aggression. Anxiety or fear could lead to reduced appetite, destructiveness, or compulsive disorders.
How do we prepare for the new arrival?
Make changes gradually so that they have been completed prior to the arrival of the child. Consider any changes that you may need to make in the dog’s schedule, housing, play, exercise, or attention so that adjustments can begin to be made well before the baby’s arrival. Set up the nursery in advance and if the dog is to be kept out of the room, access should be denied. If the dog is to be allowed into the nursery, begin to accompany your dog into the nursery, so that it can adapt to the new odours and setup. The dog should be allowed to investigate the nursery, blankets, and new furniture, and praised or given a food treat so that it can develop a positive association with the new additions.
Review or upgrade your dog’s obedience skills, as it is essential that you can effectively control your dog in all situations. Any existing behaviour problems should be resolved before the arrival of the baby.
New activities associated with childcare can be practised in front of the dog so that they become familiar with them. Tape recordings or videos of babies crying, holding a doll wrapped in a blanket, taking your dog for a walk beside a stroller are all examples of this. If there is any sign of anxiety associated with any of these situations, concentrate on these situations, using more formal reward-based training until the dog exhibits no problems in the presence of the stimuli. By providing a favoured toy, giving a food reward or extra affection during these activities, your dog may actually learn to enjoy these new stimuli.
As your dog progresses, you may want to enlist the help of friends or relatives with young children. Take the dog for a walk with a child in a stroller. Carry a baby around the house and in and out of the nursery. The dog must be well controlled, and given food or affection rewards to keep the association positive. A muzzle may be applied for extra safety in some situations. If the dog remains friendly and shows no fear or anxiety, it may be possible to let the dog interact with the child.
What should be done when the baby arrives?
Progress gradually, avoiding any situations that might lead to fear, anxiety or discomfort in the baby’s presence and make all associations and experiences in the baby’s presence positive. Maintain obedience training, exercise and play.
Supervise all interactions between the dog and the baby. Keep the dog’s nails well trimmed. Do not allow the dog into the nursery unsupervised. For some dogs, leaving a leash attached is a useful way to ensure additional control.
The most important aspect of retraining is to reward the dog for obedient and relaxed behaviour in the presence of the child. In many households, there will be less time and energy available for the dog. Many dogs soon learn that the presence of the baby is a time for inattention, confinement, or even punishment, while the absence of the baby may mean time for the dog’s own play, exercise and attention. This must be reversed. Every effort should be made to allow the dog into the room for food, play or affection when the baby is present. Take your dog outdoors for play or a walk when you are taking the child out. The goal is to teach the dog that positives occur in the presence of the child.
What should be done if aggression arises?
An immediate decision on whether to keep and work with the dog, or remove it from the home must be made. Dogs targeting children may be motivated by fear, dominance, playful, possessive or predatory aggression. The aggression may arise immediately when the child is brought into the home, or as it becomes more mobile, or as the child becomes older and begins to challenge the dog.
In most cases of aggression, the advice of a veterinary behaviourist is strongly recommended, as it will be necessary to make an accurate diagnosis, determine the prognosis, and start a treatment program. Most cases of aggression require extensive precautions to prevent injuries and a great deal of time, effort and commitment.