Dog Care Help Home | Submit an Article | To Contact Us

Baby Safety & the Family Dog - by Jennifer Shryock

I recall how wonderful the baby swing in particular, was for moments of peace and quiet as well as much needed arm rest. A recent article (http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/parenting/02/23/baby.swings.dogs.ap/index.html) addresses valid concerns about dogs and mechanical swings. It is important to keep in mind that all dogs react differently and supervision is a must all the time!

I have seen first hand a variety of reactions to baby equipment by different dogs. Some dogs become desperate to chase and catch the moving swing while others seem to find it soothing. A human moving in the air is not normal to dogs and can be quite confusing even though the swing is grounded. It is important to know your dog's reaction to different situations and stimuli. Here are some things to take into consideration:

1. Does your dog love to chase ANYTHING and everything?

2. Is your dog reactive to sudden motion?

3. Does he startle easily?

4. Is your dog sensitive to noise? If so, loud, soft or sudden? High or low pitch?

Adults in charge of supervising a baby must never allow the dog to remain in the room alone with a baby for even a second! This is a consistent key factor in most reports of attacks with newborns and dogs. This point must not be taken lightly. If the adult is not there for the dog to defer to and the baby makes noises the dog may be the first to respond and possibly tend to the baby. This is very dangerous as dogs communicate and relate very differently then we do as humans. What can caretakers and parents do to prevent such incidents?

It is best to introduce baby swings and all baby equipment to the family dog prior to the arrival of the baby. Baby swings have all sorts of gadgets these days! They vibrate, make music and even rotate. It is important to know your dog's individual sensitivities and prepare him well ahead of time. Some points to consider with baby swings:

1. Once in motion some dogs find the natural desire to chase hard to control around baby swings.

2. The noise of a vibration device in the swing can have an irritating humming noise for some dogs.

3. Spinning objects that are meant to be visually stimulating to an infant may be enticing to a dog to catch.

4. Noises of the music may be irritating to some dogs' sensitive ears.

It is important that family dogs learn how to behave calmly around all baby equipment prior to its use with an infant. Practice before your baby is home with a doll in the swing. Some dolls make noises and blink eyes etc. It sounds silly but it does help you role play and visualize the real situation. This allows a time for your dog to safely explore as you teach him how you want him to behave. Reward positive and appropriate behavior. Make this a positive experience. Ignore unwanted behavior and teach desired behavior. You do not want the first time your dog sees this new equipment to be when you REALLY are hoping the baby will go to sleep! Many dogs learn that the swing is just part of the new furniture and ignore it. This is ideal but still does not mean that it is safe to leave the room when a real infant is resting in the swing. Refreshing and practicing obedience now goes a long way towards a smoother transition once baby arrives.

Have a plan for the situations such as the phone ringing. Here are some ideas.

1. Close the door to where the baby is.

2. Take dog with you.

3. Put a leash on your dog in the house to keep him near by or to use as a tether to furniture to safely secure him.

4. Use a baby gate that you must physically lock in place to gate off area when the baby is. (Not for those that like the high jump!)

5. Offer your dog some great outdoor activity in a secured area. As always it is NEVER safe to leave a baby and dog unsupervised for any reason at any time.

Most of all ENJOY YOUR BABY!

Jennifer Shryock B.A. MPH, CDBC Certified Dog Behavior Consultant 919.961.1608 Creator of Dogs & Storks programs U.S. Rep for http://www.doggonesafe.com For more information visit http://www.familypaws.com and

Top Picks!

Extraordinary dog supplies at great prices with fantastic customer service! Click Here

Save up to 70% off EntirelyPets Daily Deals!

Flea season is upon us. Don't let your pet catch the scratch, visit Petscriptions today! Click Here

UK Dog Owners Click Here to Browse the Petplanet.co.uk Pet Shop

Quick Links: Dog Toys : Pet Insurance(UK) :

How to Start a Dog Bakery Business - How to Start a Dog Bakery Business A dog bakery business is a lucrative choice for a pet business to start if you want to enter the pet industry! Opening a dog bakery also allows you a few different choices as to how you want to set up your business. You open a store front dog bakery, online store and within these two choices come more choices; wholesale, retail or both! Find out the Laws in your state.

Dog Lover Gifts - Whether you are searching for something to say "Happy Birthday" or "Merry Christmas" a dog owner will agree that dog lover gifts are always among those most cherished and appreciated. Many times, a dog lover's gift is designed with a specific breed in mind; among the various popular breeds owned include the following...

Train Your Dog To Be Your Frisbee Playing Buddy - On the surface playing Frisbee with your dog may seem like just a bit of fun, but this activity actually holds other benefits as well.1. Certain breeds are accustomed to an active lifestyle, so, when they are forced to remain idle, they tend to create interesting diversions to entertain themselves. Unfortunately, their idea of fun may be something that you consider to be destructive behavior.

Dog Obedience Training - Dog obedience training begins with the owner. There are several tips to keep in mind before starting any dog obedience training. First of all, understand that dogs have an attention span of no more than ten minutes. Training routines, therefore, should be limited to this time frame. Secondly, all training should be positive. Reward your dog for correct behavior and always end your obedience training sessions on a positive note. Training for a dog is similar to going to work for a human.

Smelly Cats And Dogs - If a cat or dog smells bad to you the owner, there may be an underlying problem. The first thing that a pet owner needs to do if their cat or dog starts to smell bad is try to figure out where the problem lies. Usually cats are meticulous groomers, so if you were to notice an odiferous emanation from your cat, it could be a sign of bigger problems. A cats aroma can be less than pleasing for many reasons.

Dog Names - The name you choose for your dog will say a lot about your dog, as well as you! Every day puppies are been given names that they will eventually come to know as their identities. Different dog owners have different methods they use to determine their dogs name. The majority of dog owners tend to choose their dogs name with two syllables ending in y or ie. Experts have told us that dogs are more likely to recognize one or two syllable names.