Newborn Babies and Your Golden Retriever: Approach This Situation Cautiously

To a Golden Retriever, or virtually any pet dog for that matter, a new baby entering your home is simply a new member joining the pack. Instinctively, most canines are tolerant of infants, whether they are puppies or human babies. Nevertheless, what is the best way to handle a child's arrival?

Keep in mind that dogs are routine-oriented creatures. If your Golden Retriever has been the center of attention for several years and suddenly has to play "second fiddle" to a new baby, the dog is likely to experience stress. How you handle this situation, in terms of your actions and attitude can go a long way toward alleviating your dog’s anxiety.

Start by considering the routines you and your dog have together. For example, if a morning walk after breakfast is a daily habit, make every attempt to keep doing that after the baby arrives. Do you always play ball in the yard with your dog after dinner? Keep it up without fail. Even though your household routines changed dramatically when the baby arrived home, preserve as many “old” routines for your Golden retriever as you can. This will give him a bit of security when his world seems turned upside-down. If you have no "old" routine with your dog, establish one before the baby arrives and stick with it.

Be sure to socialize your dog with children before a new baby arrives. Take your dog to visit friends who have children. While supervising closely, evaluate your dog's reactions and attitudes. Make sure that the visit is a pleasant one so the dog will have positive associations with children. Play with a ball; go for a walk together, and so on. Make sure that the children are not rough with the dog, and don’t permit games such as tug-of-war or wrestling. Play should not be so vigorous as to instigate nipping.

When the new baby arrives, make sure that the dog again makes positive associations with the youngster. You can do this by sitting the baby on your lap and giving the dog a few treats. You can also take the dog for a walk at the same time you walk the baby in the stroller. Whenever possible, pet your Golden Retriever while you feed the infant. Of course, this assumes that the dog is not going wild and that you have some control over him. That's why obedience training before you have your hands full with a newborn is so important.

As the baby matures, your Golden Retriever may become more assertive with him or her. Your dog may try to maintain his position in the pecking order of the pack by growling or snapping at the youngster. An adult dog generally begins such assertive behavior when a child is about one- and-a-half to two years old.  This cannot ever be tolerated and should be immediately and constantly corrected.

Many people think that their dog is "jealous" of the child. It’s doubtful that dogs are capable of feeling the emotion of jealousy, as we know it. But they will compete for attention. An example of this would be the dog who is sitting by the owner's leg, craving attention. Suddenly the two-year-old child climbs into the parent's lap and the dog growls or snaps at the child. The anthropomorphic dog owner will interpret the dog's competitiveness for attention as jealousy. Whatever it is termed, this behavior should not be tolerated. Again, be sure to correct your dog immediately with a firm "No" and make him lie down and stay. When you are ready, release him and then give lots of attention and praise.

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