Need Advice - Page 1

I have a 5yr old female GSD that has never been around babies.  I know have my 9 mo old granddaughter living with me.  Needed some help on the best way to introduce them (or even if I should try). 

Have you had any problems yet?

What are your exact concerns.

A 9 month old can be very abusive to a dog, and to me that would be the biggest issue.

Is your dog obedience trained?

Has your dog ever been around kids  at all?  If it were me, I would go by the Caesar Milan way and have the dog give the baby it's space and you have to command that.  If you are the pack leader then the dog has to follow your rules.  The dog will be able to smell her from 3 feet away.   Do you trust that your dog will listen to you?  I would also never ever leave the baby with the dog unsupervised.  You can hold the baby and have the dog lay down next to you.  The biggest issue for me would be what the dog could do to a 9 month old not what a 9 month old could do to the dog.  If anything, you ARE in complete control of a 9 month old human baby.

In my experience, the vast majority of dogs will be somewhat interest, will sniff a bit and then walk away.

If the crawler/toddler is able to corner the dog or is let to climb on, or poke eyes, or pull ears and tail, or bite the dog. The dog may snap - in self defence.

Sitasmom-     Did you not read the OP'S questions????? Your apparent ATTEMPT to sound like you might know what you are talking about didn't work as usual. I can't believe Cesar Milan is still in business with all of your vast knowledge. LOL Please stop posting your clueless answers and advice to threads. I think your time would be better spent actually educating yourself, instead of your ridiculous and reduntant copying and posting. How's that BH going??? One who can't even put a basic title on their dog should definitely not be giving advice on a potentially serious training issue.

"Have you had any problems yet?"-
  Did they not say   "I have a 5yr old female GSD that has never been around babies" , now whats the first clue, never been around babies????

"What are your exact concerns"-  Really? looks like introducing the dog that has never been around kids to a baby?! That seems pretty apparent, don't you think?
.  OP said"I have a 5yr old female GSD that has never been around babies. I know have my 9 mo old granddaughter living with me. Needed some help on the best way to introduce them (or even if I should try)."

I was bit in the face by a GSD as a toddler, so I err on the side of caution based on my experiences both as the toddler and also having a dog that I don't trust around toddlers (had a bad experience with one and is now very suspicious of them).  I wouldn't do any forced introductions.  I honestly probably would not allow interaction.  Also be careful carrying the child around in reach of the dog.  If the dog has a lot of prey drive, for some reason lifting something up often triggers that.

Give the dog her own space behind a gate and/or put the babe in a playpen.  If the dog is nervous or worried, let her go in another room.  If she is crated, do not let the baby approach a confined dog. 

Let her smell and check out the babies things, and a wet diaper if you can, without the baby in the room.  You should see a "soft face" and nice loose tail wag if she is interested in a good way.  If you see a tense face or hesitant behavior, it's not time to introduce them. 

Watch how dog reacts to baby noises from another room or behind a gate.  You don't want to find out she gets defensive or predatory when the baby screeches with her loose in the room with you.  

Take it slow and read your dog.  Get a second opinion if you are unsure of how she is behaving.  Some dogs are just naturally sweet with babes, my old boy is like that,  soft and gentle body language with little ones.  But not all dogs, especially if they haven't grown up around how little ones smell, move, and sound.  My female is more unsure about them, she seems to think they are little aliens and has not had the chance for much exposure at all since there are no little ones in our family.

Good luck, err on the side of caution.   Make sure your dog looks relaxed and comfortable and don't rush it before you do any actual introductions. 

Heather

PS..

Try not to act worried or intense about it, lol, you'll creep out your dog :o)

Let me start by saying thank you all for the input.  And I apologize for not giving more detail.

Yes, my female is OB trained very well, and I have no doubt that I am alpha where she is concerned. The dog has never been around anyone younger than about 7 years old.  And we have never had a problem with the dog ever even attempting to go after anyone in an aggressive manner.  But then again, I have never put her in the position where she would have to either.  I have had my female from birth (she's from one of my litters), and have always pulled at her ears, tail, fur, like an infant/toddler would.  I even still get down in her food bowl with her, and have never had a problem.  But I also know that, again, I am alpha and she knows it.    My fear with her is that anything that sqeeks, sqeels etc, she goes after. (thus far it has only been toys and other baby animals...EXCEPT HER PUPPYS..she is an excellent mother)

GSDXephry - THANK YOU!!!  we have put the babies blanket in the kennel with the dog, and have even help the blanket to us when the dog is out, and baby not here.  She sniffs it intensly, but with relaxed face and body, and tail wagging.  When baby is in another room, and dog in her kennel, she does nothing but whine like crazy when she hears baby.  Especially when baby is crying.  Great idea about the diaper.  I will practice it on her and see what happens.  I must admit though, on advice of someone else, I have tried the kennel idea.  I will explain what I have done, and please tell me if it was right or wrong, and how to fix it if it was wrong.  I was told to hold baby in my lap in front of kennel.  have dog in down/stay, and talking very calmly to baby AND DOG.  Dog seems to do very well with this, relaxed but whinning and even attempts to lick baby through kennel.  Should I not be doing this?  I was also told to put dog on leash, with a muzzle on, and sit with baby on my lap with dog in a down/stay.  I HAVE NOT DONE THIS!!! I, personally, feel that putting a muzzle on her would only make her more anxious, and defeat the purpose! 

And yes, I do know and understand that it's not only teaching the dog, but the baby as well.  I have purchased a VERY LARGE (almost 4ft ) stuffed GSD toy, and am trying to teach the baby "nice" on this toy. 

To the person that mentioned CN...thank you, but NO THANK YOU! jmo

Christine