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Pets: Pets need time to adjust to new baby

Thursday, April 19, 2007
By LAURA REID and CHERYL SHERRY
For the Courier-Post

Bringing a new baby home can change a lot of lives, including that of your pets.

Sasha, a boxer, and Shelby, an Australian shepherd, were prepared for the new arrival.

"They didn't act any differently when I brought my newborn home," said Lisa Coccaro, a veterinary technician at Garden State Animal Hospital in Cherry Hill. "My two dogs sniffed the blankets and the carrier and they were curious every time the baby would cry, but other than that, they got along very well with the baby."

It may have been different if the Mount Laurel resident's dogs did not go through eight weeks of obedience school training.

"Every expecting couple should put their dogs through a few months of training classes before the baby is born," said Dawn Wolfe, dog behavior and training specialist of the Lucky Dog Academy in Lumberton. "Training is an ongoing thing that should start as soon as possible."

First, keep in mind every breed can react differently around children. Wolfe suggests choosing a trainer who knows how to work with your particular breed.

"Some might jump around and get their nose into things. Also, if you know that your breed of dog is the aggressive type, you should get a trainer as soon as you know you're pregnant."

Pack mentality

Mom and veterinarian Trisha Ewing of Hortonville, Wis., knows from experience that pets need time to adjust to a new baby just as much as older siblings do.

"Pets can get jealous, especially if they are used to getting all your attention and this new little creature comes into your house and takes up all your time," she says. "Some pout and some may act out."

Although some people might think the dog is simply jealous, dog behaviorist Joanne Hjella says the dog is not 100 percent sure who is the leader of the pack.

Like wolves, dogs have a pack instinct. When a dog is brought into a home, the family becomes its pack.

"People have to teach the dog right from the get-go who the pack leader is, which is all of the family, even the children," says Hjella, owner of a home-based dog training academy in Larsen, Wis., "Once a dog is clear about that, it should not have any issues with the children at all."

Prep your pet

Aside from bringing your pets to boarding school, there are other preparation methods to ease the transition.

Before meeting the baby, Sasha and Shelby were introduced to the baby's room and everything inside.

"We let them check out all of the baby's toys and crib so they could get used to them," said Coccaro. "We wanted the dogs to get used to something like the movement of the swing."

Even the little things can help acquaint your pet with the baby before they meet.

"A good idea is for dad to bring home dirty diapers and blankets the baby spit up on in the hospital," said Wolfe.

If you would rather save the dirty jobs for the changing rooms, there are other solutions.

"Get a fake baby to carry around and practice putting it in the carseats or strollers," said Wolfe. "Even wearing a carry-on with the fake baby inside will get your dog used to it."

Making sure the dog can master basic obedience commands such as sit, stay and lie down is also crucial, as is making sure the dog gives mom and baby space.

"It's good to teach a dog to lie down on its bed to keep the dog out from under your feet," said Wolfe. "Or put a blanket on one corner of the couch for the dog. This helps define for the dog where it should be."

Coccaro used the command "wait" to keep her dogs from stampeding down the stairs alongside her and the baby.

"I would tell the dogs "wait' at the top of the stairs until my toddler walked down first. I didn't want them to knock the baby over."

A crying baby also becomes an issue that needs to be addressed.

"There are CDs out now that make the sounds a baby would make, like crying," said Wolfe. "This will get pets used to the sounds, so they don't misbehave when the real baby cries."

Positive reinforcement

Once the baby comes home, the key to an effortless transition is positive reinforcement.

"Don't avoid the interaction with the dog and the baby unless you have historically an aggressive dog and want to avoid it, and seek a professional behaviorist or find a new home for the dog," Ewing says. "If you have no indication and your dog has been fine around children otherwise, just be there, supervise that interaction and make it a positive experience when your dog is acting nice around your baby, sitting nicely and sniffing and being a good dog. Praise them and give them treats."

Coccaro says her dogs are able to tolerate a lot from her baby.

"My son can pull their ears, step on them and crawl over them. My dogs just let him do whatever he wants to them."

A good teacher and a few weeks of crash courses may childproof your pets, but not all bad habits can be knocked. Coccaro says there is one noticeable change in her dogs, due to the baby's presence.

"They've gained a few pounds, because the baby is always dropping food on the floor."

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