Behavior & Training - Pets & Babies (Part 1): How to Prepare Your Family Dog and Cat Before the Arrival of Your New Baby - by Sharon Mear, Behavior Counselor and Trainer, Training Cats and Dogs - February/March 2005 - Out of the Cage!, the E-Newsletter of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals

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Behavior & Training

Pets & Babies (Part 1): How to Prepare Your Family Dog and Cat Before the Arrival of Your New Baby

by Sharon Mear, Behavior Counselor and Trainer, Training Cats and Dogs

Newborn human, Kate Wattenberg, snuggles with "big brother," Jake, a former AC&C dog adopted through Adopt A Boxer Rescue.

Editor's note: All too often dogs and cats are unnecessarily surrendered to shelters because their families are having a baby. A family's concerns are sometimes for the baby's safety ("I'm afraid the dog might be jealous and harm the baby.") or concerns about allergies ("My baby is allergic to the cat.") However, with a little advance planning, many of the problems, whether real or imagined, associated with bringing a new baby home, can be avoided.

Sharon Mear, a behavior counselor, trainer, and owner of Training Cats and Dogs, provides training and behavioral counseling for dogs and cats and the people who love them. Sharon appears regularly at the "Ask the Trainer" table at Mayor's Alliance Pet Adoption Festivals. Following is the first part of a two-part article in which she describes ways to address some of the behavioral concerns associated with introducing a baby into a household with companion animals.

With the arrival of your new baby, life as you know it will be changed for everyone in your household, including the family dog and cat. While change can be a positive thing, it is up to you to educate all family members, including the animals, so everyone understands what is expected of them when the new baby comes home. Dogs, like children, need boundaries, order, consistency, and quality time.

Start by asking yourself:

1)	Does my dog listen to me?
2)	Will my dog come when called, sit, and stay on command?
3)	Does my dog walk nicely on leash?
4)	Does my dog jump on people when excited?
5)	Does my dog bark at moving objects?
6)	Is my puppy housebroken?
7)	Does my cat bite on toes, or pounce on people?

If the answers to these questions are "yes," now is the time to get help. These inappropriate behaviors can be turned into good manners with education and commitment. Make learning fun and exciting, and everyone will want to participate.

Cat, Molly, has adjusted well to the addition of new human baby, Darby, and her twin sister, Megan, to her family.

As a trainer and behavior counselor, I have found that introducing a new baby to your animals is best accomplished by making gradual adjustments. If you go through a formulated, step-by-step program, your dog will not associate the baby with all that is about to change, and therefore undermine his security and well being. Helping your dog feel safe and secure through this process is your responsibility — and it's a good way to help him accept the new family member without feeling anxious or threatened. We have domesticated the dog and cat and they depend on us for everything. How will they ever feel safe and secure if we are so quick to relinquish them or punish them for something we did not teach them?

Train Your Dog

If your dog is not well trained, now is the time to get started. A dog that understands the rules is safer and happier. If your dog is trained but doesn't always listen, consider a refresher course.

Preparations for the Arrival of Your Newborn

1)	Start a feeding and walking schedule that you think your dog will experience when the infant comes.
2)	Expose your animals to as many infants and toddlers as possible. If you don't know anyone with children who can spend time in your home, try using a doll. Make the doll smell like the baby by using the same lotion and powder that you will use on your infant. Cradle the doll in your arms; rock it in the crib, while offering positive reinforcement to your dog when he is behaving appropriately. For instance, you might rub his belly if he is relaxed while you are rocking the crib. Try playing tapes of baby sounds. If the dog is acting appropriately, reward him with a treat, a toy, or some cuddle time.
3)	Allow the animals to explore the baby's room and play areas. These areas will be of significant interest because of the new smells and sounds. Allow them to accompany you into the baby's room. Let them smell everything. But if the dog picks up any of the baby's things, such as a toy or a diaper, correct him by saying "no" and command him to "drop it." Don't let the dog or cat jump onto the baby's furniture or sleep in the crib.
4)	If the dog and cat are allowed on your bed or on the couch and you will not permit this once the baby comes home, begin weaning them off now. Teach the dog a command that tells him to get down, like "off." Get the dog and cat their own beds and make them a special place to be. Teach the dog a command, such as "place," that tells him to go somewhere and lie down.
5)	If the dog's toys all look like baby toys, buy him something different, such as rubber toys (Kong Toys) into which you can stuff yummy things. Practice commands that teach the dog to relinquish them, like "drop" or "leave it."

Babies and toddlers can join you and your dog on your walks. Toddler, Kyra, and rescued Bullmastiff, Tess, have become inseparable friends.

Walking Your Dog

If your dog pulls and lunges on walks, try using a head halter (Gentle Leader) or a no-pull harness (Sensation or Sporn), and schedule walking sessions with your dog trainer and dog walker. Start bringing along the stroller and/or carrier that you will use for the baby on your walks. If you have a friend with a toddler, perhaps they could join you on some of your walks.

This might seem like a lot of work, but isn't the safety and happiness of your entire family worth it?

Watch for "Pets & Babies (Part 2): How to Avoid 'Second Child Syndrome'" in the next issue of Out of the Cage!

If you have a behavior or training question or topic you'd like to see addressed in this column, please e-mail it to us at info@AnimalAllianceNYC.org.

Sharon Mear, behavior counselor, trainer, and owner of New York-based Training Cats and Dogs, provides training and behavioral counseling for dogs and cats and the people who love them. Sharon is a regular participant and counselor at the "Ask the Trainer" table at Mayor's Alliance/Maddie's Pet Adoption Festivals. One of her own adopted felines, Mr. "Cheeks" Gillespie, chose Sharon as his own after observing her for years from a perch outside her bedroom window! Sharon was featured in the October 2004 issue of Out of the Cage!

If you have a behavior or training question or topic you'd like to see addressed in this newsletter, please e-mail it to us at info@AnimalAllianceNYC.org.