Dog and Newborns?

Question

I am pregnant with my first child. My 6 year old westie nipped at my niece and nephew already. I am worried when I have hte baby this will be a problem. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Here is an except from Dr. Ian Dunbar (I strongly recommend his training books---and here is a link to his website. He deals extensively with this subject).

http://www.siriuspup.com/about_founder.html

James & Kenneth Publishers
© 2004 Ian Dunbar

DOGS & CHILDREN
Babies and children should never be left unsupervised with puppies or dogs. Learning to respect, understand, care for, and successfully control a dog gives a dramatic boost to any child's self-esteem. But these benefits do not come by magic. Children and parents alike must realize that cartoon dogs are fantasy, and Lassie was several well-trained dogs. Both Lassie and Timmy were acting. In the domestic environment, both dogs and children must learn how to act around each other. All dogs must be taught how to act around children, and all children must be taught how to act around dogs.

Enroll your whole family in a SIRIUS® Puppy Training Class right away. If you do not live in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (1–800 PET DOGS or www.apdt.com) to locate puppy classes in your area.

Teaching Dogs How to Act Around Children
To improve children's confidence and self-esteem, it is vital their puppy- and dog-training exploits succeed. Success depends upon adult planning, participation, and direction. First, adults must teach the puppy or dog how to act in a controlled manner, and second, adults must teach children how to control the now mannerly puppy or dog.

Adults should use kibble to lure-reward train the puppy to come, sit, lie down, stand, and roll over. "Come," "Sit," and "Lie down" are the basic control commands, and "Stand" and "Roll over" are the best commands for examining the dog's body. Additionally, adults should handfeed kibble while cuddling (restraining) the puppy and while stroking and fondling (examining) his muzzle, ears, paws, belly, and rear end. The puppy will soon learn to positively associate restraint and examination with food.

Provide children with tasty treats (in addition to kibble) and instruct them how to lure-reward train the now easily controlled puppy. The puppy will quickly learn that training is fun and being trained by children is especially fun. Families without children at home must invite children to meet, handfeed, and train the puppy during his first three months in his new home. Young puppies are impressionable, cute, and non-threatening. Invite family, friends, and neighbors with children, i.e. children the puppy is likely to meet as an adult.

Instruct the children how to use kibble and treats to lure-reward train the puppy or dog to come, sit, lie down and roll over. By approaching and sitting close, the dog voluntarily accepts and enjoys the child's company. By sitting, lying down, and rolling over, the dog acknowledges and respects the child's requests. In other words, the child asks and the dog agrees. Or we could say, the child commands and the dog willingly complies. Moreover, by rolling over on request, the dog shows voluntary and happy appeasement. Quite frankly, willing compliance and happy deference towards children is the only workable solution for pet dog training.

Additionally, as a major beneficial side effect of lure-reward training, the dog grows to like and respect its trainer: "Wow! Children are fun; they give lots of treats. Of course, you have to sit to receive them…but then that's just common canine courtesy!"

All owners should seek family puppy training classes, in which both puppies and children are allowed to interact off-leash.

New Baby
All dogs must be taught to thoroughly enjoy the presence and actions of babies. The solution is classical conditioning. From the outset, integrate your dog into all new baby moments and routines. When feeding the baby, sit down comfortably, and handfeed kibble to your dog at the same time. Pick up the baby whenever he cries and then call your dog and offer a treat as you cuddle and shush the baby. (You will find the baby calms down more quickly if you are slightly distracted by talking to the dog.) When changing the baby's diapers, handfeed freeze-dried liver to the dog. (Keep a treat jar on the diaper-changing table.) In no time at all, your dog will form strong positive associations with the baby's feeding, crying, cuddling, and diaper-changing. You may find your dog adopts her baby-minding role with great enthusiasm. Your dog may promptly alert you whenever your baby cries, or messes his diapers. Yes, you will have trained a Dirty Diaper Detection Dog.

Teaching Children How to Act Around Dogs
Ideally, learn how to teach your children (and yourself) how to teach a puppy or dog before you get a puppy or dog. Observe a puppy class so your children may learn training skills. Many class instructors will welcome children's participation, since socializing puppies with unfamiliar children is a major reason for puppy classes. Additionally, observe an adolescent or adult dog class, so you can preview the predictable problems you are going to encounter (or better, prevent). And most important, make sure your children have ample opportunity to test-drive a variety of puppies and adult dogs. See if your local Humane Society has a volunteer program.

When selecting a puppy or dog, make sure all family members, especially including children, love the dog, feel completely at ease around the dog, and are able to easily control the dog before you decide to welcome him into your home. Teach children to train and control the dog using training techniques they can master—classical conditioning, lure-reward, and reward-training techniques. By using brain instead of brawn, even three- and four-year-olds can master these exercises.

Sit with your children, hold the pup's bowl, and jointly handfeed her first few meals. Instruct your child to occasionally offer treats (tastier than the dog's kibble). Your puppy will soon learn to love the presence and presents of children.

Warn children never to approach any dog without supervision. Teach children how to train puppies to approach them. Instruct children to stand still, to always speak softly, and to keep one hand in their pocket while luring and rewarding the dog with the other hand. Any child who cannot get a puppy to come, sit and lie down, should never be allowed to play with that pup unsupervised. A single child (or adult, for that matter) with no control can ruin a good puppy within minutes. Insist on training before playtime. And in no time, the child will be play-training the puppy.

Children feel great because they can control puppies with verbal commands and handsignals. Puppies are ecstatic because they have discovered that sitting is the secret command that trains children to stand still and deliver treats on cue. And adult owners feel relieved and deservedly proud to know that their soon-to-be adolescent dogs are congenial and compliant with children.

For more information, please watch Dog Training For Children, Every Picture Tells A Story, and the SIRIUS® Puppy Training videos.

Answer 2

A new baby coming into your home can cause rivalries and danger to both your dog and your new baby. There are some basic steps you can take to help everyone make the adjustment.


Allow you dog to sniff things your baby will be using so the dog's scent will be on these items. This is a sanitary method because dogs can pick up scent on items even after the have been laundered.

Get yourself a baby doll and introduce it to your dog using the word "baby" and teaching your dog to sit and lie down whenever the baby is near.

Train your dog. If your dog hasn't been trained yet, it need to learn SIT, DOWN and HEEL. Find a local obedience trainer and get signed up for an obedience class or have a private trainer come to your house.

Introduce your dog to toddlers. Start with toddlers that are away from your dog's territory, then on his property and finally in your house. Again, since your dog has all ready had some issues with children a good trainer would probably be well worth the investment.

Acclimate your dog to a baby's cry. You can do this with a tape recording of babies at the hospital. (There may even be recordings like this on places like http://www.eBay.com ) Let pooch check out this sound and investigate as long as all four feet stay on the floor.

When your baby comes home from the hospital, have mom enter the house first without the baby. Introduce the dog to the baby's items first and then the baby. Do not let the baby interfere with the dog's regular routines with like feeding, walking and playtime. Never, ever, leave your dog alone with the baby and do not let the dog sleep in the baby's room.

Remember that children can hurt dogs too. Teach your child that a dog needs quiet when sleeping and eating. Teach your child to pet the dog gently and use a calm voice. Never, ever leave your dog alone with your baby.

Find a trainer that you like and explain what you would hope to accomplish before your baby arrives and with dedication and training you and your dog should both be ready for the baby to arrive.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Now is an ideal time to look into obedience training classes. A good trainer can help you can better control of your dog and better understand your dog.
You can start getting your dog use to a baby long before the baby arrives. Let your dog sniff baby scented items such as shampoo, powder, crib, and diapers. Associate all these things with something positive. Cradle an object like you would a baby and reward for good behavior.
Of course, NEVER leave dog and child unsupervised. Dogs do not know that babies are just babies and children do not know that dogs have limits. Keep babys nursery closed and off limits to the dog unless you are under direct supervision.
Ask your trainer about more details.
Since your dogs tolerance for kid play is not high you will want to be careful about direct contact between baby and dog. However, obedience training can teach your dog to be more patient around children.

Answer 4

Start getting the dog used to small kids now. If you can walk by a playground or elementary school just to get him used to the noise and site. Maybe a leashed introduction with smaller kids as a starter. It doesn't have to be all at once, you have some time before the baby will be old enough to even interact with the dog for a chance to be nipped. There are also ways to get the dog used to a new baby (tapes of babies crying, bring home alot of the equipment early and having it set up before the baby ever gets there, stuff like that) If the dog is comfortable with all that, continued work with small children, and the gradual introduction on dog to baby (who at first will be unable to really interact with the dog enough for him to have a reason to nip) it should be an easy transition.

Answer 5

First what caused the nipping...nipping is a warning before a bite..but should be thought of as one. if something the kids did (which does not make the nipping right...but understandable and being a small dog makes it more likley 'fear biteing'
seeking someone who can help with behavior problems. some trainers 'train' a dog(if ur dog does not have the 'normal' training down this will help)...however can not handle the behavior part...

check out babyzone.com and babycenter.com they both have lots of info on bring home baby to pets.
i would get some behavior books as well as taking the dog to someone this way u understand more about the dog's mind.

cesar millan ~cesar's way~

good luck!

Answer 6

you need to get your dog trained!

as for the new introduction. My husband brought back the blankets the babies had at the hospital and the dogs sniffed them, and then I went back they sniffed the babies... they were very curious, and gentle. They knew something weird was going on because I was pregnant they kept following me everywhere and were very protective (especially my border collie)

so I don't know waht to say about agressive dogs as I never had a problem with my dogs. I actually adopted 3 more dogs after the birth, and they were adults, and reacted well to my babies (the dogs were in foster homes)

My cats were more trouble (jealous) than my dogs :-)

I got all my dogs as adults so I spotted their personality... AND I did some training with all of them as well.
Dogs and kids can be a good match, if you are willing to make the effort. You shoudl consult a professional.

EDIT: DP is right. Even though all my 5 dogs are super well behaved and love kids. I do not let my kids play with all my 5 dogs alone. I have to be there or my husband has to be there. My dogs are inside with us, we have a huge backyard as well... but they are not backyard dogs, they are part of the family.
Also never let a dog growl at a kid (or nip, snap etc). I don't care if my dogs growl at each other (over a toy, or whatever), I don't tolerate growling at my kids. It happened only once with my boxer and she did not do it twice. My dogs listen to my kids. My kids play my dogs with no problem, of course there is the falling issue, as my dogs are huge but my dogs don't mean to do it, and the tails that can be painful... but otherwise, it's a lot of fun.
I grew up with 6 big dogs and I am fine! and I do it now with 5 and 2 boys!
you have to be smart and know that
Dog + kid + supervision = good
Dog + Kid alone = no!!!
the same for swimming pools!!!!

Answer 7

Well, you dog might have been jealous. Did you give them more attention then him/her? But when you first bring the baby home, have the dog sniff your child, but take it away before he has a chance to really react. Bring them around each other a lot, and give your dog a lot of attention to let him know that he's the only doggie for you, and can never be replaced.

Answer 8

Your dog needs some serious training and socialization.

And we can't help but wonder: Why did you not get the dog some assistance with its behavior after it bit your niece and nephew?

Don't minimize biting as "just nipping"; dogs should never be allowed to put their teeth on anyone. Get your dog properly trained, or adopt it out to someone who can.

Answer 9

A dog should be trained on how to eat, walk with you, not to bark, potty training and sleep on its place etc. You can teach anything to your puppy, dogs get trained easily with some good instructions. If you want some good training tips visit https://tr.im/eh4rl

If properly trained, they should also understand whistle and gesture equivalents for all the relevant commands, e.g. short whistle or finger raised sit, long whistle or flat hand lay down, and so on.

It's important that they also get gestures and whistles as voice may not be sufficient over long distances and under certain circumstances.

Answer 10

Then you get a trainer and you work on some obedience.. socializing around kids.. Training your dog, and you learn how to introduce baby to dog.. Never trust kids alone with a dog no matter how well you know the dog..

Answer 11

get a trainer and start socializing the dog to kids as well as adults and slowly introduce it to your baby however never trust the dog alone with your kid or any.good luck also congrats on the pregnancy.