So you’ve had a baby. Amazing! And you’ve got a puppy. Cute! But wait – did you get both of them at roughly the same time? Because if so, you’re probably going to want a crash-course on how to properly introduce puppies and babies.
Think about it! They’re both technically babies, and babies (especially baby dogs) can be unpredictable if nothing else. If your puppy hasn’t been socialized properly, who knows what it’s going to think your baby is. A threat? A fleshy toy? A companion?
Let’s hope for the latter. To help ensure that your puppy sees your newborn as a friend instead of a threat, make sure you learn how to introduce them properly.
Puppies and Babies: Interactions, Confusions, and Possibilities
If there’s one thing that’s for sure, your puppy is certainly going to be curious about your baby. Your puppy basically sees through its nose (they have a hyper-sensitive sense of smell) and since your baby is going to be constantly unloading a number of different odors, your puppy is going to be attracted to them.
Babies are equally interested in puppies. They’re not mom, they’re not dad, and they’re not like anything else in the room. This makes them liable to chase the puppies, pull their tail, and make weird noises at them.
While all of this is cute, it can also be a recipe for disaster. If your puppy gets offended of freaked out by your baby, they might end up in a tussle.
How to Avoid Conflicts With Puppies and Babies
Here are some tips on how to avoid your puppy biting your baby (or the other way around).
- If you get a puppy when you’re pregnant, use the time prior to giving birth to help your puppy explore and get familiar with new smells and sensations, especially those related to your new baby (the nursery, crib, etc.)
- Create access barriers so that your puppy can’t get to your baby uninvited. This may include a baby gate.
- Whine. If you practice crying like a baby, or play recordings of such a sound, this will get your puppy used to the noise. This makes them less likely to interpret your crying baby as a threat.
- Whip out the baby smells. You can wear baby lotion and powder around your puppy so that it gets used to the smells and doesn’t run up to your baby in curiosity.
- Prepare the dog’s nose. It can be useful to help introduce your puppy to your baby’s scents. Let them smell and play with a baby blanket or a piece of clothing to get them familiar with your baby’s smell.
To Wrap It Up
Puppies and babies are an adorable combination, but it’s important that you learn how to socialize these different beasts properly. Otherwise you run the risk of puppy biting baby, or perhaps the other way around.
Raising a puppy properly is just as important as learning how to socialize them. Learn how to raise a Greyhound puppy here, or prepare for some of the puppy challenges you may have to overcome.
