Advice - Page 1

I have a baby due any day now and I need some advice on how to properly introduce a baby to my GSD's.   I am very concerned!

Thanks

I'd let them smell the baby blankets and clothes first, and slowing introduce them one at a time to the baby.  most are extremely intuitive and gentle around babies.

First time the dog met this baby, it was love and devotion.

 

Don't be concerned, you won't need to make a big deal out of it, they know already.
Just be careful, even the gentlest animal could cause a problem without meaning too.
My dogs were very devoted to our children when they were babies.
Just use good common sense, and good luck.

Is your dog an inside dog? If so, no need to smell anything, the dog can smell the baby in the other room just fine. Use common sense and your ability to read your dog would come handy now. Don't make a big deal about it and again, use common sense, anticipate everything, be relaxed and it'll all resolve itself just fine.

Bring home the blankets with the babies scent on them BEFORE you bring the baby home.  Make sure they know that that smell is not a toy.

If you and your spouse are good pack leaders, they will quickly understand that the baby is YOURS.

One thing to watch is dirty diapers, my dogs thought they should clean up after the baby just like it was a puppy, eat the yuck!

Yes, true. The dog will (at least try) to EAT the diapers, regardless if there is #1 or #2 in them. That is TRUE. Do pay attention to that. Excellent advice that I forgot. If he could, he will snatch the dirty diaper.

Don't ask me how I know and what happened afterwards when the time has tome to "pass"... he just will.

Von Stephanitz on the GSD and children.   "They are always conscious of their power and of their duty to protect them, and even in their squabbles with them, they will take care never to draw blood"

Here's a good link with practical advice:




www.dogmanners.com/Yournew.htm

My friend Michelle just had a baby and my  3 year old Kaiser and her GSD would always play and walk over the past years-every time Michelle would come to the house he would get all excited to see his gal pal to go play-when Michele showed up with tiny bundle of little noises and cooing -he was totally confused-I know I am anthropomorphizing lol but it's as if he was saying "hey where did my Roxy go" well maybe he was -but I had him sit and watch while I met the new little "friend" and when he kept getting exciting over the noises the new baby was making-I would say wait-and when he was calm and only when he was calm-and I knew he was just curious-I let him (  with new moms approval ) sniff her feet and sit again and "be easy " with the baby- my friend took the baby to hold her-and Kaiser put his head on the car seat resting and watching-they are so very knowing-we have to trust and watch  body language and signs- I still would NEVER assume that a baby was safe with any dog alone. That's just common sense.
I get chills sometimes when I see pictures going all over the web-with a baby posing and crawling all over the dog and the owners saying oh my dog will tolerate anything my kids do to her/him... I say teach respect on both sides.
Ok I will shut-up for now lol...

Congrats on your new little one:)

Karina