Before your child was born, you performed new child crying movies on YouTube so your canine might get used to the sound. You had somebody drop off the receiving blanket earlier than you got here dwelling from the hospital. And when the time got here to introduce the 2, you remained calm and picked up. It went swimmingly, and the canine rapidly accepted your tiny human.
Related: How to Prepare Your Dog for the New Baby: Tips From a Trainer
Then your tiny human morphed right into a toddler, began crawling and strolling and pulling on the canine’s fur. Suddenly, what appeared to be a budding friendship has changed into one thing of a circus.
Parents typically focus a lot on the primary time a canine meets his human sibling however get blindsided by how the connection adjustments because the child will get extra cell.
“The canine and toddlers must study what the opposite likes, how they wish to be handled to allow them to not solely tolerate one another however actually like one another,” says Marina Selinger, a licensed coach for Tractive.
Marina shares methods to maintain the peace between toddlers and canine.
Dogs and toddlers may be greatest buddies. Photo: LightFieldStudios/Getty Images
Problem: Noisy Toddlers
Your pup has possible gotten used to the sound of a child crying, however toddlers begin to make new noises as they discover their voices. These sounds can embody high-pitch screeches and squeaks the canine could discover upsetting.
Solution: Positive Reinforcement. Have the canine affiliate the loud noise with one thing good. “If there’s a loud noise, the canine will get a deal with,” suggests Marina.
Problem: Your Kid Grabs on the Dog’s Fur
Your canine could have naturally taken to your new child, however infants must learn to work together with canine. They typically begin by pulling on their tails and fur — they’re not making an attempt to harm the canine, however they don’t know any higher.
Solution: “With toddlers, it’s greatest to indicate to inform,” Marina says. Place your hand on high of the kid’s and present them how you can pet the canine gently. If you discover your child grabbing the canine’s face or pulling his fur or tail, attempt redirecting them to one thing else or telling them, “No. That will damage.”
Parents typically focus a lot on the primary time a canine meets his human sibling however get blindsided by how the connection adjustments because the child will get extra cell. Here are ideas for preserving the peace between canine and toddlers. Photo: warrengoldswain/Getty Images
Problem: Your Dog Thinks the Kids’s Toys are Their Toys
Dog toys and baby toys are comparable — they’re typically stuffed or textured and make noises. But you don’t need the canine chewing up the lovey your child depends on for consolation.
Solution: Train your canine to solely go after toys at your command. Marina tells her canine to “get it” if she is OK with them choosing up a toy. “Leave it” additionally works if a toddler drops a toy, and the canine goes after it (this additionally works if the toddler drops meals on the ground). Marina says it’s greatest to attempt to train these instructions earlier than the newborn is even born. “Some of this stuff take a very long time,” she says. But in the event you didn’t, don’t be so laborious on your self — you had a ton of issues to do to prepare for child. Consistently work together with your canine on the command, and think about hiring a coach to assist.
Problem: The Toddler or Dog Needs Space
Your canine and toddler love going in every single place collectively — nearly. A canine could also be delicate about having anybody invade their “area,” akin to a crate or mattress. And as cute as it’s to see your pup and child snuggled up and napping collectively, it’s not significantly secure for both if the canine climbs into the crib.
Solution: Help the 2 study that they every have a secure area. “Teach the newborn to depart the canine alone if he’s in his mattress,” Marina says. If the toddler is high-tailing it in direction of the pup’s mattress, attempt redirecting with a toy. Or, clarify, “The canine shouldn’t go in your mattress as a result of it’s yours. We’re going to avoid the canine’s mattress as a result of it’s his particular area.” You can even redirect the canine with treats. “Give a canine a deal with to go some place else than the newborn’s room if he’s headed there,” Marina suggests. “That means, he is aware of you prefer it higher when he [goes to this room] as a substitute of [baby’s].”Or, block the areas with a child gate to stop both from coming into.
Remember: Keep an Eye Out
Dogs and younger kids may be impulsive. As cute as they’re and as a lot as they might love one another, typically, issues get out of hand. It’s essential there’s at all times an grownup within the room to stop (or rapidly cease) and scuffles.
“You can not belief each of them 100%,” Marina says.
Featured picture: Antonio_Diaz/Getty Images
