Preparing dogs for a baby in the house!

[LookAtThatCritter]

We have two dogs, one is almost 2 and the other is about 9 months. They both are good with children and are regularly around a toddler, the oldest just wants to spend all day kissing her 😂the youngest is still very much puppy energy but no longer nips and is training regularly. Just looking for some tips on the best ways to get them ready for a baby in the house!

So far we have been playing baby crying sounds regularly to the point where they are no longer bothered or curious. We also started getting his furniture ready, let them smell everything, play all the toy/rocker chair noises, etc and turn the rocker on so they see it moving. They'll get to smell his hospital blankets and things before they meet him and will go to their doggy daycare a little more regularly the first few weeks so they come home tired.

Anything else I should be doing?!

Be prepared that despite all your preparation, it might take them time to adjust and it might be a bumpy road to start with. You're doing lots of good things, but it can still be tough going at first. Baby sounds on a phone sound nothing like the real thing, and don't come with smells/movement etc. Also being around someone else's toddler is very different to being around your own baby and having the baby living in the house with you and you holding it constantly. They are unlikely to be jealous of someone else's child temporarily interacting with you but might be of a baby as a more permanent feature.

If they aren't already well behaved with good manners, start training and being consistent with discipline. Also consider how your home is likely to work with your baby in it and get the dogs used to this eg we decided we would only have them in our lounge in the evening so that the baby could be in it in the daytime, and started this before the baby was born. Ditto we stopped them going upstairs as we wanted that to be a dog free zone.

When the baby arrives, don't force interaction, let them go at their own pace. Keep the dogs routine as close to normal as possible to minimise change in their lives. Take the baby out on walks with the dogs so they form positive associations with the baby being around. Most importantly, and obviously, don't ever leave your baby with the dogs alone. It takes a split second for serious damage to occur from even the most well mannered dog.

I am sure it will go well, it sounds like you're really sensible and are thinking lots about it. Also, if you are having any difficulties, don't hand around - get in touch with a behaviourist straight away to advise you on how to handle things. Mishandling the early days can lead to longer term problems. Hope all goes well.

Should add, a playpen is a god send when you have dogs and a baby. One with mesh sides rather than bars so that little arms can't poke through!

When we came back from the hospital we made sure that we kept the dog in the garden and went out one at a time so she could say hello (very excited to see us!)
Then we brought her into the house and let her settle while I held baby. She was fine. She did stare at me during night feeds for a number of weeks afterwards, mentally asking me wtf I’d done to ruin her nice quiet life 😂
But I didn’t do any of the baby crying noise prep, we just got the baby stuff out early and left it lying round the house so she got used to extra bits around. I think the baby must smell of us, and she knew the baby was part of the family.
We’ve always made sure she has space when she needs it, never leave them alone and we make sure she still has time for cuddles after baby is in bed. Her life has changed, but she hasn’t lost anything she had before.
I’m sure your pups will do fine meeting their new tiny human. You’re doing all the right things.