Ilda Rosa Veterinarian Professor, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária da Universidade de Lisboa Many are the families that already have pets, mostly dogs , when they decide to have the first child. At that point, when they think about the harmony of the family and the safety of the baby, it is natural that they would have doubts about the permanence of the animal in the home. However, in most cases, cohabitation is possible. The fundamental is to prepare the animal and preparation requires time, a few months before the arrival of the baby in the home. Before the arrival of the baby in the home Where to start Obedience training is the first step and it should be done always, even when there are no children. Integrating the dog in a family, be it large or small, and maintaining the welfare of all, presupposes that the animal is trained to obey. Therefore: Even when a dog is already trained to obey, before the family grows, a reinforcement of that training should be done with specific activities; If the dog is not yet trained to obey, this has to be started from the beginning; It is also necessary to accustom the dog to new smells and noises . The preparation can take more or less time, depending on the training the animal already has, above all if it already obeys, on its characteristics and on the daily available time to train it. The best is to start all in good time, at least six months before ! How to train obedience The goal is for the animal to obey the instructions given in any circumstance. It is necessary to ensure that in a situation different from usual or in a moment of excitement – for instance, when someone gets home and the dog greets him running and jumping –, it obeys the instructions that are given. The training should be daily , and the dog must learn to associate the family with the baby and the activities must be associated with pleasant situations. Therefore, the training is based on positive reinforcement (to associate the pleasant activity) and no use of force (to not associate punishment or fear); It should include activities similar to those that will take place once the baby gets home, for instance, responding to the command of “sit” or “lie down”, while one holds, cradles or bathes a doll; When the dog obeys the command, it should be rewarded with petting, biscuits or something the animal enjoys , so that the animal understands it is appreciated, although your attention is focused in something else. Habituation to noises Animals react to noises they are not used to and the reaction may be negative. The habituation to noises avoids unexpected reactions to the typical noises of the presence of a baby: Record the sound of babies crying, laughing, jabbering and screaming; Reproduce it once in a while and progressively, until realizing that the animal no longer pays attention to it; This way, the animal will not have a negative reaction to the noises of a baby at home. If there is the opportunity and with the adequate control of the animal, the ideal will be to bring a baby to the house to see the reaction. This will always be the best training, since it allows, under controlled circumstances, a gradual exposure to children . Habituation to new smells Animals also react to odours and with the arrival of the baby, these will be many, for instance, personal hygiene products and others, clothing, bed linen, diapers. The ideal is to have at home beforehand some of the products that are going to be used by the baby and let their odour spread , so that the animal gets used to it; When washing the baby layette, try to do it with the same product you will be using afterwards; When the baby is born, bring home a blanket, clothing and used diapers and let the dog smell al that ; it also helps. The arrival of the baby in the home When the mother and child come back from maternity, the ideal is for the dog to be able to greet the mother without the baby present , or with someone else holding the child, while the mother pets the dog. This way, one avoids the need to scold the dog for excessive excitement, quite likely because of the absence, right in the first moment the child enters the home. Then, still from a distance, the dog should have time to get used to the new sounds and odours of the baby and his presence in the home. Afterwards, the introduction can be made, with more proximity and more tranquillity . The first introduction The first introduction can be made in the day of the baby arrival or may have to be postponed. The important is that the dog gets used correctly to the presence of the baby. One of the parents should hold the animal and the other, the baby; The dog should be controlled , sitting or lying down. The one holding the baby should then approach slowly and let the dog see the child, maintaining a distance; If the dog remains calm, it can then smell the child, always under control. Whenever the dog, in the day of the arrival from maternity, remains excited after the initial greetings, the introduction of the baby should be postponed or done more progressively. A baby should never be left with a dog without a responsible adult present , even when it already used to his presence. The following days The visit of the dog to the room where a child is should always be made with the control of a responsible adult , especially when the baby cries, screams or is more agitated. These behaviours of the baby may arouse the curiosity of the dog, that may try an excessive approach, jump or even, in extreme cases, attack. When the child is very agitated, the ideal is not to have the dog in the same room. Over time, the baby and his behaviours become usual and the animal stops reacting. Dealing with specific behaviours Jealousy When a dog is jealous of the baby, it seems to try to draw attention. To avoid this behaviour: In the 2-3 months before the expected birth of the baby, the parents should start paying less attention to the animal attitudes. That does not mean putting it aside, simply not in the centre of attention. Then, when the baby comes home, more attention should be given to the animal than it was being given in the last 2-3 months. If even so the dog continues to be jealous, you may reward its attitudes of calmness , while you are feeding or taking care of the child. This way, the dog will associate the presence of the baby to more pleasant attitudes from people towards it, and there will be a better acceptance of the new element. You should also place a safety gate at the door of the room where the child is. This way, you will prevent the dog from entering without someone present. Dirty diapers and protection against predators After the arrival of the baby to the home, the dirty diapers should be always placed in a safely closed bin , so that the animal will not lick or eat them. This behaviour happens especially in female dogs. Female dogs may also tend to eat the baby poop, a behaviour related with the instinct of avoiding that predators can smell the new-born. Note that: If the training, preparation and described measures are followed closely, the risk of problems between the baby and the dog will be minimized. However, so that nothing goes wrong, a baby and a dog should never be left alone, without the supervision of a responsible adult , at least until the child is old enough to understand and respect the behaviour of his pet . Usually, that occurs around 6-7 years old . The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
