A New Baby on the Scene- Family Placement Teams
Canine Behaviour & Child Interactions

Do dogs love children? - Not necessarily! Or perhaps I should say, more constructively, the child dog relationship is often more of a myth perpetuated by Disney and Television as a whole.  For the purpose of this article I would define children as babies and toddlers under the age of about five years.  From five years onwards to about 12, it is easier, but the child is still too much for many dogs to cope with especially the more highly triggered breeds like Yorkies, or more sensitive natured dogs that are easily frightened. No doubt many readers will wish to acquaint me with stories of beautiful child dog relationships, but I too have seen many of these and they are mostly a sign of a tolerant dog perhaps with a very well disciplined child – in other words a balance has been struck between the parents educating their children and selecting dogs which are biddable by nature.

Very young children do not behave like older children or adults; being animated, impulsive and erratic. The sudden movements and high pitch screaming are not too dissimilar to the natural prey of dogs (and their cousin's wolves) and that is why we have such an unacceptable bite count in Britain today.  

Of course, if you notice the language that dog owners use to their pets it helps us to understand how we perceive our dogs.  “Baby, darling, cuddles, naughty boy/girl, my baby.  Other terms used to describe the qualities they feel their pets have are “loyal, affectionate, always there for me, non judgmental, makes me feel loved, and so on.  If so many people feel this genuine closeness to another species and then describe their pet dog as nearly human, it is no wonder, when the new born baby arrives, that the parents feel a responsibility to both their real child and their established substitute – the one that has got four legs.

When jealously, or more accurately, pack position, is at stake from the dog's point of view, parents are now faced with a situation which they alone and often unwittingly created. Nevertheless choices have to be made. Then they are, in fact, emotionally torn between the dog and the child. Now to non ‘doggy' people this may seem crazy.  But to the dog owner the relationship is very real and true. Remember what I described previously about what people perceive dogs give them in friendship.

The bond is built and the dog instinctively follows its prevailing canid instincts, which is an order of rank based on who leads and who is led. When this order is challenged by any pack member the challenger is disciplined and warned off by body language signals or when that fails, attacked. Many breeds of dog have been modified to be very deferential and less triggered by pack changes but a dog is a wild animal still despite domestication and its instincts are all intact.

Many established family dogs will not take too kindly, to the baby being offered endless attention, care and softly spoken words because that's been his privilege  to date. Dogs also dislike house dynamics changed and find a new dog, cat or child arriving stressful - they simply don't understand.  

In most cases this is a psychological one - actually it may sulk or grumble but the dog owner amount assume things are alright and the outcome is unpredictable. Is there risk?  - always when you place dogs in such circumstances that hey are not designed to cope with. The fact they do adapt in most situations is a compliment to dogs as the most adaptable pet we keep.

New Baby arrives

Now when a new baby arrives in the two- person- one- dog household the ‘substitute child' - the dog - is generally removed from the centre of attention to second place and the endless stream of baby admirers arrive using all the endearing voice tones and intonation with the baby and the dog is again often given a cursory pat and told to get out of the way.

The dog does not understand the new ranking (preference) structure as it is sudden and he may quickly decide that the new bundle is an upstart and needs putting in its place, naturally. This does not make your dog bad; in fact, it is a normal dog and a normal child.  

So how does that account for all the millions of dogs that do love or at least get on with children? Those are the instinctive rules which most dogs display and fortunately we know how to manipulate our pet dogs to, if not like our babies, at least to treat them with indifference.

At least six months before a baby is due to be born follow these rules. By implementing the routines ahead the dog will have time to adjust slowly and when the child arrives, little will change with regard to his position within the pack.  I have yet to meet a woman who did not, herself, change when a baby arrived and with the immense work load, did not relegate her pet dog rapidly. This is not because of choice but because of her new responsibilities.  Therefore make the changes before and not after the birth.

The husband or male partner should take over all the dog duties like feeding, grooming and exercising, gradually, if possible. This teaches the dog to accept that the woman is no longer a provider of these fun routines.

If the dog has the run of the house use a baby gate to prevent the dog from going upstairs, as a baby room will normally be made.  It will prevent the dog being constantly told off for being inquisitive and will prevent jealously building up.

Stop the dog from coming into the main lounge as a right but only by invitation once a day for perhaps a couple of hours. There will be times when baby and mum need time alone downstairs and perhaps with visitors. Once implemented, well in advance of baby's birth, the dog will have adjusted to the new system.

Reduce most cuddling of the dog on furniture/couches, make up for this by playing more interactive games with the dog on walks. The dog has to learn that he can no longer fling himself onto chairs at will.

When the baby arrives home, using a lead and collar allow the dog to calmly sniff the child whilst it is on your knee.  Simultaneously have some very tasty treats aside to give the dog each time the baby arrives in its presence for the first couple of weeks. Try to behave as naturally as possible and do not leave the baby unattended in a room with a dog under any circumstances, no matter how pleasant a nature the dog may possess.

As toddlers grow and are placed in various cots, high chairs and the like, resulting in copious amounts of discarded food from the babies plate onto the floor, the dog soon begins to associate this new baby wolf as a rewarding experience who delivers tasty treats. The dog will now look forward to baby's feeding time.

If you are unsure as to how your dog will react to a new child, have it assessed by a canine behaviour practitioner.  

On the whole, dogs and people do get along, but I believe that the majority of bites on young children are so easily avoided by preventative measures that it is simply a case of people working ahead and educating themselves on the consequences of owning a dog.  Remember, neither the dog nor the baby had any say in arriving in you home and being placed together, so do give them the best chance of becoming amiable pack members