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Before we brought the baby home from the hospital, we were asked how we would introduce our dog, a female white German shepherd, to the baby.  My husband wasn’t worried, but I worried about it from the moment that I knew I was pregnant.  Dogs can sense chemical and hormonal changes in people, so she probably that knew that I was pregnant before I did.  My concerns stemmed from what happened to a co-worker.  When she was about seven months pregnant, her dog became aggressive toward her and they had to find a new home for the dog.

When we got home from the hospital, I made sure that the baby and I were above the dog the first time they met.  I was in our bedroom sitting up on the bed.  When she came in, I was fine for the first moment.  But, the dog got really intense in her interest.  The more intense she became in sniffing the baby with all her new smells, the more nervous I got.  I made my “stop” noise and told her “out”.  She assumed a submissive posture, backed off with her ears down and left the room.  So far, so good, but my heart was beating a mile a minute.

My husband has extensive experience raising and training German Shepherds.  As the “pack leader” it was important that he establish that the baby is above the dog in the pack hierarchy.  This will only work if you have a dog that “knows her place” and is submissive to the pack leader.  Period.  No questions.  Also, vigilance is of the utmost importance.  If you know your dog, the signals will be there.  When my husband introduced our dog to the baby, he sat up on the couch with the baby and let the dog sniff our daughter’s feet.  Our dog stuck out just the tip of her tongue and she very gently licked our daughter’s foot (see picture).  She then backed off without being told.  Huge relief!  Our daughter is three months old now and it is very clear that the dog has adopted our daughter as “her baby”.  She is very protective and nurturing of our daughter, which is apparently a trait of shepherds.  When the baby cries or makes a noise in the bassinet, the dog is right there nudging with her nose to get to “her baby”.  When the baby cries overlong, she gives us a look that says, “If this were my pup, this would be handled already”.  If the baby is crying, the dog will come up and lick her feet (the only place she’s allowed).

Our dog helps me as well.  There have been times when I have gotten overtired and overwhelmed.  After I put the baby down in a safe place, the dog has come to sit right by me so that I can calm down by stroking her and hugging her.  If you’re concerned about how to introduce your dog to the new baby, consult with a professional.  Your dog may be a huge asset in keeping your sanity and protecting your baby.