Remember when we talked about Doggy Free/ Doggy Safe Zones (familypaws.com calls them Success Stations™️)? If not you can read about them in my post about Baby Prep! If you do we're gonna talk a little more about them! What are they? How do they work? Why are they important?
Prior to gaining more knowledge I was simply under the impression dogs and kids just "lived" together like it was a normal and natural thing that happened. I've grown up with friends who had always had dogs around when they were young or when their siblings were young. We didn't get our first dog until I was in 7th grade- miss you Harley Bear! No one ever really talked about having to prepare or what troubles they may have faced. You certainly didn't hear about anything unless it was a disaster or caused a trauma or fatality (especially involving children). Now, with that being said we have come a LONG way in our knowledge of Animal Behavior so to be fair NO ONE would have this knowledge even 15-20 years ago. We know so much more about Canine Behavior and how it pertains to their actions regarding people and children in general as well as why and how they behave in varying situations.
The age old saying of "we've always done it this way!" or "when I was young/you kids were little we never did 'XYZ' and everything was fine!" Understandably, those phrases aren't wrong. We are fine and everything did turn out OK. But, what if it hadn't and how were are dogs affected without us even knowing? Could things have been better? There's no use dwelling on the past so let's talk about the present and the future. What we know NOW is what we want to continue to expand upon and bring to light. Even if you choose not to use what we will discuss in this post at least you have the knowledge and a Plan B should you need it. Being armed with a wealth of knowledge is better than nothing at all!
As we've discussed in previous posts your Dog's space will be taken over by Baby and all their Baby Things. This can be overwhelming and confusing for Dogs. They may get scolded for even being interested in the items around or the Baby itself. A dog's curiosity can cause a lot of undue stress for parents especially new ones. We want our Dogs to get along with and love our Baby but they don't, truly, understand who the Baby is or what to do with them. This can be overwhelming, stressful, and confusing for them too. Ideally, Dogs and Newborn Babies should not be allowed face to face contact especially when bringing home for the first time. When Babies start to do Tummy Time, sit up, crawl, pull themselves up, stand up, and eventually walk this adds a whole new realm of space invading for your Dog. Babies certainly don't understand who or what the Dog is and that certain toys/ treats aren't theirs just as much as the Dog may not understand the same for the Baby.
The goal with Success Stations™️ is to provide safe environments for BOTH Dog and Baby and subsequently give Mom and Dad peace of mind and one less thing to worry about- you're gonna have A LOT to worry about as a New Parent and you're gonna be tired to boot! Our Dogs want to please and they have a vast curiosity that lasts until seniorhood. They also develop a relationship with us as someone they have grown to love and, more importantly, trust. They look to us for comfort and guidance and now it's our job to provide just that. There are quite a few options out there for how to safely separate everyone **Remember, these methods should, ideally, be practiced BEFORE Baby's arrival so as not to introduce a brand new training tactic while also taking care of a Newborn Baby**:
Tethering: This method offers the chance for your Dog to remain close but limits where they can go. Some people have even used this method for potty training their Dog as a Puppy by tethering the pup to themselves to ensure there are limited or no accidents. This method however involves tethering the Dog to something else rather than you. Now, I know some people may not like the idea of bolting a tethering loop into their wall especially if they plan on being with their Dog and Baby in multiple rooms- that's a lot of holes in the wall! Large, heavy pieces of furniture can also be used if this works better for your home. This is also a great idea for the overly curious Dog who may want to get in on the action. They can stay at a safe distance without physical barriers and still be part of the family dynamic. You can also use this opportunity to provide treats and positive reinforcement while you move around with Baby. **Once Baby is spending time on the floor for Tummy Time, play time, learning to roll over or crawl, etc this method may no longer work or be appropriate**
Crating: This method gives your Dog their own space AWAY from Baby but they can still see what is happening. We definitely want to make sure the kennel we choose is both large and comfortable enough for your Dog to have enough space to hang out comfortably- toys, treats, puzzle feeders/ toys, water, bedding if allowed, etc should all be provided and adequate breaks outside should be given as well. Finding a good spot for the kennel can be tricky. Some dogs simply do not do well in kennels and we certainly can't always see how they are doing while in there especially if the kennel only fits in a spot we can't see without actively looking for it. When choosing this method make sure it's a good fit in kennel size and location and for their emotional state while in there. **Like Tethering, once Baby becomes mobile this method may no longer work or be appropriate**
Gates: This method is my, personal, favorite and what we use in our home. Baby gates aren't just for stairs! Our living room is our hub. We spend the majority of our time here- minus the first month we lived in the bedroom cooped up with COVID, Gallbladder surgery recovery, and postpartum depression but that is a WHOLE other story! Prior to Harvey Ned had the whole floor space AND the couch (when invited) and his toys and us all to himself. As time went on and Harvey become more and more mobile and I learned more and more about, overall, Dog and Baby safety we had to rethink out living space. We had been handed down several gates from friends, we had 1 from my pet sitting business, and we actually found one for free in our neighborhood while out on a walk! It took several different tries with different gates before we finally found a one that worked best. Keep this in mind when you choose gate styles and how the layout of your "hub" looks and where else you may need gates. Ideally, the baby gate is to ultimately keep Dog and Baby separate but close. Now, most gates allow for little, baby, hands and dog snoots to reach through so be aware of this especially if there are snacks or toys involved. They allow for Dog and Baby to take turns. When Baby is awake and playing Dog is on the other side of the gate. When Baby is napping or down for bedtime Dog can return to their usual areas beyond the gate(s).
At one point we had a gate at the entrance to our living room as well as a gate barricading Iain at his computer which is also in the living room (we nicknamed it the Baby Barricade). For Harvey's safety and our sanity we had to block Harvey from getting under the computer desk and near the cords, etc. When we started utilising the gate method we had Ned's bed near the area so he still had his own set up and access to his water, food, and toys. We learned quickly this would not work because the new space was too close to Baby. Ned was becoming possessive and seemed confused and less willing to "share". We tried moving his bed a little further away but came up with the same results. With our current set up Ned's bed is in our kitchen which overlooks the living room from above. He can still see us but is not directly involved and Harvey has NO ACCESS to his bed or things.
**When we started collecting Baby Items we had planned to set out the larger items (baby swing, bassinet, etc) so he could get used to having them around. Unfortunately, due to my difficult pregnancy we didn't get them out in a timely manner- cut to my parents setting up the bassinet while we were in the hospital and Iain and I setting up the swing the day we brought Harvey home😬
**REMEMBER: Our goal is to work towards allowing Dog and Baby to live in the home together. These methods are steps towards that and not permanent fixtures to keep them separated forever. Allowing Parent/ Adult guided Dog and Baby time is excellent with each milestone reached. Make sure BOTH parties are comfortable during these times together and watch for body language indicating it's time to stop or take a break. By continuing to practice and increasing confidence we can acclimate them both to living side by side both inside and outside the home- who doesn't want their kid and dog to be able to play ball in the yard? Or have their kid be able to take the dog for a walk?
Harvey will be 16 months in a few days. He is walking, trying to run, and falls down A LOT. He is grabby and curious and thinks Ned is hilarious. We still use the gate as we understand Ned and Harvey are, simply, not ready for joint playtime. Ned has never taken much of an interest in Harvey's toys, unless there is food on them, but Harvey will take Ned's toys all the time if he finds them. This can get dicey as Ned has a tendency to become possessive of his things with other dogs and he HAS growled at Harvey before because of this. We do let Harvey wander around our hallway and kitchen with Ned loose when we can watch them. At least 1 adult MUST be present during this time. We do a lot of redirection for them both and positive reinforcement often. If it's nice enough outside and Ned seems to be getting too overwhelmed we will let him take a break outside. Occasionally, we have had to put him in the bedroom to take a break as well- he has access to toys and water as well as his own bed in there too.
Due to Harvey's age he is now mimicking what he sees us do. We have to be careful with what we say and how we say things to Ned as well as how we interact with him in play or simple touch, etc. If we do something we wouldn't want Harvey to do this can be confusing for Harvey to see but get in trouble for mimicking. By teach Harvey how to interact with Ned and giving Ned positive reinforcement for showing wanted behavior we are able to give them both what they need to live together in harmony.
Being a good example for our children is a great start to raising kids who are aware of how to respect dogs' spaces and boundaries.
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