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Pupforum presents your training questions answered by professional dog trainers.
Elaine has been training dogs professionally for 14 years. She is a CPDT as well as an endorsed member of NADOI. She is also certified in narcotics detection and is one half of a (twice) certified explosives detection team - the other half being her Dutch Shepherd Spawn, who is also titled in several protection sports. Elaine is the owner of Canine's Best Behavior, a Los Angeles based training company, offering Basic Manners, CGC, K9 Games (soon!) as well as behavior modification for aggression fears phobias etc.
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8/17/2005
Acclimating your dog-who may well perceive themselves to be the “baby” in your house, to an actual human baby is easiest done with some advance planning. Often, addressing baby/dog relations occurs just before to the big event when that natural nesting urge takes over mere days prior to birth!
Dogs learn through sight, sound, smell and gradual exposure with no social pressure put on them that the baby is AOK. In a best case scenario, by the time your baby comes home there should be a kind of “Oh yeah, been there, smelled that” kind of attitude from your dog.
- Get a behavioral assessment if you have any inkling that they may have problems with children. Some dogs just aren’t suited to that kind of life.
- If your dog is allowed on elevated surfaces, now may be the time to change that. Not that they would mean to hurt the baby, but they may jump up on the sofa and knock the bassinet off. Best to remove that privilege well in advance of the baby’s arrival. You don’t want them to associate the baby’s arrival with demotion in status.
- Teach a baby DMZ area. Get them used to the sight of baby things means not on the sofa, practice with an empty car seat on the sofa and a baited chew on the ground for him.
- Gradually remove any dog toys that may resemble your baby’s toys. If they have been given lots of squeaky stuffed animals-slowly rem
ove and replace with fabulously baited non-conflicting toys. Yes, dogs can learn the difference between their toys and the baby’s but we want to make this as easy as possible for your dog before they are standing over a baby food covered stuffed dog with a very confused look on their face.
- If you have been prone to baby talking-avoid anything that you may have used with your dog when talking to the baby. Talk about confusing! In the dog’s eyes, you are now saying “their” special words to someone else….
- Teach a strong stationing command-that way they don’t have to get booted outside in all the hoo haw of a new baby. Teaching a solid OFF is also smart.
- Get them comfortable being outside anyway. Sometimes, they are just going to have to be alone.
- Avoid flooding them with all those very natural mothering emotions that take over just prior to birth. If the big love festival stops and then the “new guy” shows up and gets it, there may be some understandably hurt feelings.
- Beg, borrow or steal some used baby clothing, the good the bad and the ugly. Used diapers need to be a normal smell to your dog. Used toys are good too. If someone can come over with a baby and hang out, that’s great! But no allowing sniffing or licking of the baby. We want the dog to be comfortable but not too forward unintentionally or otherwise.
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