Before baby comes home, ready family pets for new arrival

When Megan and Bill Lobe learned they were pregnant with their first child, they quickly prepared for their new baby's arrival. They designed and readied the nursery. They studied what to expect when expecting. They baby-proofed their Smyrna home. And they made a game-plan for how to introduce their newborn son to their pets, Labradors Rhett and Darla.

"I was never worried about Rhett at all, but I was with Darla," Megan recalled.

The new mother explained that 8-year-old Darla could be possessive with toys. They didn't want her to see their new baby, Hank, as a threat.

The couple researched tips and took an intuitive approach on how to introduce Hank to the dogs. When Megan was in the hospital post-delivery, Bill gave the dogs clothing Hank had worn so they could smell and sleep with the scent. For the first month of Hank's life, the couple allowed their dogs to sniff, but never lick, their son. And they never made Hank's nursery "off-limits," unless the baby was sleeping.

"We really tried not to make anything a big deal," said Megan, whose son is now 9 months old. "We wanted his homecoming be as least disruptive to their lives as possible."

Certified dog trainer Kate Jackson said the Lobes took the right approach when preparing their dogs for their son. Recent headlines about a Rockdale baby who died of injuries inflicted by the family pit bull underscore the need for caution when introducing pets to an infant. In that case, investigators concluded that the incident was an accident, and the dog's bite was not aggressive. Authorities said the family will not be charged in the 5-day-old infant's death.

Jackson, of Jabula Dog Academy in Decatur, said that expecting parents should evaluate their pup --  no matter what the breed -- for potential problems.

"You can't be breed specific," Jackson said. "You have to take each individual dog into account and assess how they are with children."

She suggests carrying a baby doll to simulate your future child. She also advises playing CDs that mimic a baby's cry, which to a dog can sound like an injured animal and trigger a "prey instinct," she said.

"Introducing a baby doll into the picture can show you early on if you will have a problem," she said.

Jackson said the biggest mistake people make is changing their routines and rules after a baby is born.

"After the baby comes home, a lot of people will realize ‘I don't want my dog on the sofa or the bed.' They start to change their rules once the baby arrives... that will build resentment in the dog," she said.

It is better to address those behavior issues during pregnancy, she said.  That way, the dog won't associate the changes with the infant.

Owners should also reacquaint their dog with a crate and make the crate a "happy, safe place" prior to the baby's arrival.

Lastly, she suggests that expecting parents simulate changes in their routine before delivery so that the dogs become accustomed to a new schedule.

"And no matter how good your dog is, never leave your baby unattended with a dog," she said. "You can never undo one little mistake."

Tips from The Humane Society of the United States