How to properly introduce your rott to your new baby?

[Maverick]

I had a baby girl on Tuesday and we are bringing her home today. Some specific advice on how to introduce dog and baby would be greatly appreciated!!

I already brought a blanket home for him to smell that the baby was using at the hospital. I want to allow Maverick (dog) to meet the baby without holding him back to much.... I don't want to cause any tension or anything between them, but obviously with such a small baby I have to be very careful of my big dog. Maverick is young as well, so this will play a factor... he is only 15 months old so he is not fully matured and can be a little rambunxious. He gets very excited when people visit and his listening tends to be not as good as normal. When not so riled up his listening is very good, and even when fully riled up the basics commands will be followed when given by me in the right tone... So I have the sit, down and stay to work with.... He may not stay for a real long time tho since he is so excited....

So there is a bit of info.... Hopefully you all can give me some advice on how to introduce baby and dog and how to handle it from there on out...

Any help is appreciated as always!!

[Terrie]

I start by saying that I am no expert here BUT I can tell you what we did when we brought our daughter home. DH had a blanket that Payton carried with him for 2 days. When we got home my DH carried the baby and I walked in alone to pet and be welcomed by the dog who missed me. We did keep him on a lead as he tends to get over excited and though I didn't have a c-section I was not in any condition for the zoomies.... Then we just went on with our lives. Payton was allowed to smell Isabella and then he walked away. Personaly I think not making a big deal out of it was a plus for us. We NEVER left the 2 of them alone in the room together and to this day follow that rule. We did ask him where his baby was and he would look for her sniff her head and then walk away.

Congratulations on the baby! You do realize that as a member of this forum you must post pics of her right

[dogsbydoug]

I would have established rules before the baby was born that while anyone is holding the baby that the dog is not allowed closer than 3-5 feet from that person.

But...can't do that now....

Is it possible for someone to take Maverick for along walk or otherwise get him good and tired before baby comes home? I would also put Maverick on a leash and have him sit/stay or down/stay while you come in with the baby.

Put 'baby scented' items around the house and allow Mav to smell them, but not pick up or play with them. Also, he'll have to learn a whole new set of rules in terms of toys - what is and is not his. When you come home, if possible, aftera few minutes or so when everyone is settled down, hand off the baby to someone and then spend some time with Maverick, maybe a few minutes of obedience.

If it's a nice day, why not take everyone for a walk- you push the stroller and someone else walks Maverick - then trade off. The 'pack' walks together...don't let Mav set the pace for the walk.

Congrats on the new baby - what's her name??!!

[Maverick]

Thank you for the responses.

Her name is Rylynn and I will post pics.

When I came to check this thread it said the forums were down and I was left to figure things out myself... So for anyone else who may have questions about this I will go over what I did and how it is going so far.

I was staying at the hospital with my wife but I came home twice everyday to take Mav for a walk and spend some time with him. One day I brought a receiving blanket home with me and let him smell it. He was told gentle and "not yours" (obviously the command for things he is not allowed to play with). He is very good with these commands and he sniffed the blanket a lot but didn't take it from me. I then held the blanket in my arms like a baby and mocked like I was talking to the baby... he got excited but I kept telling him down so he wouldn't jump up and then I would show him the blanket again repeating the above process.

Then it was the big day... Time for baby and mom to come home. I came home and took Mav for a good walk and run in the park. Then I went to the hospital to get mom and baby. Mav is still in his crate when we are not home so we came in the door and got settled before the meeting. I sat mom and baby on the couch (baby in the car seat still). Then let Mav out. I pet him and payed attention to him then he went to see mom and she did the same. The baby was sleeping so he didn't notice her right away. I stayed close with my hands on Mav at all times... He noticed the baby and got very excited... He sniffed and nosed at her. I allowed him to do some sniffing and check her out but would pull him back when he got too riled up and tried to jump on the couch with her... He was getting too excited so we ended that session. After a cool off I held the baby and let Mav out again. He was jumping up at me at first but I told him down... Then decided to make him do a down/stay. I did that then brought the baby down for him to see. He was excited and did lots of sniffing and licking... When he got too riled up or broke his down then I would turn my back on him and then command him to do a down/stay again. When he was set I would bring the baby down again. I did this for a bit until I thought we did enough for the day.

Then we went about our life.... We had the baby in the basinet (sp?) on the kitchen table while we went on with our day. As long as she was quite Mav didn't pay too much attention. If she made noise then he got excited and tried to jump up to see her. So I just repeatedly had to tell him down and removed him a couple times physically from the area.

It has been a few days now and it seems that he is getting more used to the idea and he is not so rambunxious when the baby is present. Every once in a while he gets excited and will try to push to get to see the baby but I correct him right away. I am also continuing to allow him to check the baby out now and again. I have been paying a lot of attention to Maverick and giving him lots of exercise. I have been taking him for one or two walks a day and taking him in the truck with me when I go out. I think this has played a big role in his attitude towards the baby.

I hope this info helps someone as things seem to be going very well in my house at the moment.