Babyproofing your Dog

Posted by Jenny Dickinson on Aug 2, 2016 3:30:00 PM

Often folks who are expecting a baby realize the family dog isn’t under adequate control. Keeping in mind that safety trumps every other concern, I want to tell you about   a few of my favorite precautions that keep the new baby safe and allow the dog to understand what his boundaries are around this smelly, screaming creature.

1. FIrst, I encourage new parents to teach the dog to stay off the couch and the bed BEFORE THE BABY COMES. This sounds strict, but when you are sleep deprived and end up putting the baby in bed with you or on the couch as you lie down in front of the TV, rules go out the window.  This is not a dog training context. It’s better to have the dog already understand he needs to stay on the floor at a time like this.

2. Teach the dog “Go to your spot!” by providing a nonskid mat and rewarding the dog when he puts himself there. Then you can rely on this skill to have the dog stay safely out of the way when there are guests admiring your new baby.

3. Replace the door to the baby’s room with a SCREEN DOOR. You will be able to hear the baby but the dog won’t be able to wander into the baby’s room when you are unaware.

4. I give credit to the inspired trainer Katenna Jones for this exercise:  get a baby doll, roll it in a blanket, and try managing your dog with the pretend-baby in your arms.  Quickly you will find that you have to manage without arm gestures, so work on your voice commands this way.

5. Be very careful with visitors coming and going:  it is not unusual for dogs to bolt out the door when there is a lot of upheaval in the house, such as a baby creates. This is especially true if the dog is being shoved out of the way or treated as an annoyance. You don’t want the tragedy of your dog being runover at a time like this.

6. Know that if the dog gets scolded every time he goes near the baby, he may begin to associate the baby with unhappy things, and of course you don’t want that. Remind visiting grandparents and others that the dog is part of the family too and that you have worked to keep everybody safe.

Don’t hesitate to get a trainer to help you prepare the dog for the arrival of your baby. This is a very worthwhile use of your time. You’ll enjoy the first few weeks a lot more if you are confident that everyone is safe.

Best wishes, Jenny



Topics: training