Jennifer Shryock, dog behavior consultant and mother of four, recommends making the first encounter a non-event.  She reminds parents that they have a lifetime for their child to get to know their dog; the first moments need to be calm.

Handle your newborn like you would handle any other object that you bring into the home that would greatly interest your dog, such as take-out food. Keep your baby elevated and have your dog sit.  Allow your dog to sniff your baby’s feet, if he is interested, while your baby is elevated.  The worst thing to do is to lay your baby down on the floor and allow your dog to explore because you cannot predict how your dog will react.

For a more detailed discussion of how to teach your dog how to behave when your newborn comes home, go to Jen Shryock’s website www.dogsandstorks.com.  The site will also help you locate a Dogs & Storks face-to-face course in your area.

By Anne Oxenreider

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