How to introduce a newborn to a puppy

[FeedMyFaceWithBattenberg]

Hello!
I'm due my 1st baby on the 8th December.
I'm just wanting some advice on how to introduce baby to our 1 year old westie poo puppy. We have a 1 year old cat and a tortoise too!
Thanks :)

[BLUEsNewSpringWatch]

dragon not making sure 'a dog knows it's place at the bottom of the pecking order' does not mean that a dog has not been well trained. In fact modern methods are supposed to result in better and more consistent results. Poorly trained dogs are totally different to positively trained, without the pecking order nonsense.

And yes, as excited as my spaniel gets and despite him only just being 1, he will lie down in the lounge and wait whilst I open the front door and visitors come in. He will also continue to lie down in the lounge, if I pop out to the car (leaving front door open) or visitors come in and out with things before saying hello to him. Most impressively (to me at least) he will do the same when over excited untrained hyper annoying children group of neighborhood DC knock the door to see if my DS wants to play out and start calling dog by name, shouting 'come on' and dog's name really excitedly, whilst tapping their hands on their leg (as they have seen me do, when I call him to me) and my dog would love nothing more than to run over for a fuss, but still he stays lying down on the lounge floor because I haven't told him he can come over. I have tried to train get the pains in the neck neighborhood DC to stop but they won't. They seem determined that one day they will get my dog to move wish I could train other people dc

[Veterinari]

How is thorough, kind training equivalent to a pecking order?

PP are correct - the pack theory /pecking order theory is based on research done in the 1940s (science has moved on!) and was corrected even by the original scientist (who realised his work was flawed.)

Having said that training your dog not to go towards your child (and training your child the same!) is not a bad idea. Kids and dogs need space from each other and to. E properly supervised - there are useful resources on this in the 'useful resources' thread in Doghouse

[Dragongirl10]

Well my large and powerful Weimaraner, was very well behaved with children all her life, never pushed over a child, never so much as nudged them, despite being a lively breed reknowned for their high energy and boisterous nature. Also she was always kind and respectful with us and visitors, when visitors came to the door she would stand back off lead, whilst we let them enter and said hello, no pushing or leaping all over them, (which happens frequently to me at other houses)

We never punished or were harsh with her, but we did thoroughly and kindly train her...so to those saying dogs are not pack animals and there is no pecking order can you truly say your pets are consistently that well behaved?

[BLUEsNewSpringWatch]

Actually pack theory isn't right (scientific research shown it really doesn't exist in our dogs and is not even that relevant to actual wolves either (who live in family groups of 2 parents and their children))

[GinIsIn]

Pack and dominance theory has been resoundingly debunked.

[sadmum2017]

As much as I love them, our dogs are not allowed near 3 month old DS yet. They can see him and smell him, they will sit quietly in their bed and watch him if he's playing on his mat with us. But I am in no rush to 'introduce' them as such. It's just not a risk I'm willing to take.

[LilCamper]

Kids get bitten because parents don't teach them to respect the dog as an animal and think taking pictures of their kids draped over dogs is 'cute'.

[LilCamper]

Dogs aren't pack animals and they aren't out to dominate humans and take over the world.

[Bumdishcloths]

Dogs do have a pecking order ffs, it's pack mentality. And yes they should ALWAYS be lower in the pecking/pack order than the humans in the pack. ALWAYS. This is why kids get bitten, because stupid humans don't respect pack rules and teach the dog correctly.

[LilCamper]

Dogs don't have a pecking order....they aren't chickens!

OP have a look at the files on the Facebook group 'Dog Training Advice and Support', There is one called Dogs and Children. Loads of great info in there.

[GinIsIn]

pecking order?

The thing to bear in mind is that it was your dog and cat's home first. Trying to make them feel "low down in the pecking order" on purpose when they've already got a massive change to get used to is absolutely not how I would choose to proceed!

Make sure that your pets have a safe space in every room so they've somewhere to retreat to if the noise etc gets too much. Try and really take the time to show your pets as much love and affection as you can so they know you're still there for them. If they feel secure, they will accept change more easily. Don't force the animals to go near the baby, and don't punish them if they are curious and want to sniff the baby. Our dog is 4 and our baby is 5 months now. She loves the baby and wants to be wherever he is, and the his face lights up when he sees her - it's great now but I was incredibly stressed at the beginning in case they didn't get on.

[Dragongirl10]

I am afraid l disagree with introducing pets to newborns.

We had a large dog and when my dcs came home we taught our dog to stay a couple of feet away from the baby, wherever in the house we were, same when baby was crawling, ddog was not allowed to touch and would tiptoe gently a few feet back.

When they were toddling ddog was respectful and just stood quietly, she never touched them, if they touched her she would just stand with a soppy expression.

The reason for this training was the dog knew the baby was to be respected and not touched, and as toddlers not to be pushed or roughly knocked over.

Also dogs know their pecking order, and we did not want her to think she was higher in the pecking order than the baby, she had to show respect for the baby. This prevents guarding behavior and safeguards children.

Our dog was throughout her long life most calm and gentle around children, despite being very big and powerful, she never licked a childs face, sniffed them, or touched children unless invited...all dogs should be trained to behave like this imo!

But it starts from the first day you bring baby home, be calm but firm and do not allow touch, ddog can look so praise that quietly, if they show excitement or push forwards stand up with baby and turn back to dog until calm, then sit and allow ddog to look without touching.

Once ddog has learnt that, you baby will be safer and you are starting towards a safe and calm relationship with child and ddog as baby grows.

I have seen some horrible accidents with unruly dogs knocking toddlers over, being dominan,t and even nippy, as parents did not establish boundaries over the baby.

We love our pets, but a human baby comes first in a household and an animal second.

Enjoy your baby!

[Morecaffeineplease]

Advice given to us was for Daddy to take home a piece of clothing that the new baby has been wearing & introduce it scent to the dog.

Also set up the nursery beforehand so that isn't a shock.

Can't offer any more advice I'm afraid as we have been incredibly lucky with how our sog took to our newborn.

Don't leave them alone together.