Dogs and Newborns

[fickman]

Go on and get some baby toys out. . . make sure the pups learn the difference between dog toys and baby toys and know which ones they can play with. It sounds silly, but play with some of the baby toys from time to time so that the dogs get used to the rattles, songs, lights, movements, and other crazy noises.

When the baby is born, bring a blanket home a few days before mommy and baby are released from the hospital. Let the dogs learn the baby's scent before the baby comes home.

Don't leave dogs - even ones you're fairly certain you can trust - alone and unattended with a baby or toddler, especially if the dog is new to the experience of being around a little one. This is as true for a Yorkie as it is for a Pit. This protects the baby from the dog, the dog from the baby (once they're crawling / walking / throwing things / biting), and you from terrible grief, trouble with the law, or being made infamous on the news. You can maybe trust a dog with a baby when you've had 3-4 babies and know the dog has handled eery situation well. . . until then, the consequences are too severe if the 1-in-a-million "he's never done that before" situation happens.

Make sure the dog knows that his place in the pack is lower than ALL humans, not just lower than you as the pack leader. This might take some training and work to accomplish.

Once the baby is mobile, make sure they can't get into the dog food, water, or out the doggy door if you have one.

Start preparing the dog now for less face time. We spend a lot of time with our dog and give him a lot of lovins and attention, but it's just a fact of life that they get less when the baby comes (until the kiddos are old enough to give some of their own). A lot of the dog's cuddles will go to the baby for a couple of years.

Most of all, CONGRATULATIONS!

[powerboatr]

my grandbaby brew up around her (my rottie) they were born only weeks apart
the pup knew she was to be protected and loved, they slept together, played together, and even ate at same times for over 10 years.
the other pups that were older, actually treated the baby like gold and never aggressive even when she rolled on them and played rough
it all goes back to proper training

[C-dub]

my grandbaby brew up around her (my rottie) they were born only weeks apart
the pup knew she was to be protected and loved, they slept together, played together, and even ate at same times for over 10 years.
the other pups that were older, actually treated the baby like gold and never aggressive even when she rolled on them and played rough
it all goes back to proper training

Proper training/socialization and a stable enough dog to begin with. No amount of training will overcome a dog that is not stable enough in the head to be safe around kids or anyone else for that matter.

Before I enlarged your pictures I thought, how did they get my pictures. I have very similar pictures of my daughter playing with one, two, and even all three of our Rotties when she was little.