New babies and dogs, the juggling act.

Elsa on her never ending baby watch.  If I leave the room for a second, so does Elsa.  

Most of you know that I am a new Grandma; a new Grandma twice in just over a week to the most gorgeous little boys.  One of my daughters, her husband and little boy have been staying with us.  Before this Elsa had never met a baby up close and personal.  Oh, she's seen them around,  heard them a bit but never had one in her home.  Socializing with tiny babies can be tough to do if you aren't around any.  There is also the fact that most Moms are highly protective so asking if your puppy can get use to babies with theirs doesn't always go over so great.  Babies are a completely different thing for dogs; who knows what they think they are.  They smell, move, sound and look very different from adults.

Each and every dog is very different but a blanket statement of safety needs to be instilled with the addition of a baby to a dog home.  Even if you don't have a dog; you will run into dogs and the utmost of safety is required with interactions.  I am a Safety CEO; not in actuality but in my own behavior.  I have and always will be on high alert when it comes to dogs and children.  The next statement from me may come as a huge surprise to many.  Dogs are dogs.  There I said it.  :)  As much as I ADORE dogs, heck my life revolves around them; they are dogs and our babies must be protected from them.

This does not mean that I think that dogs are bad, far from it.  What I mean is that we cannot have a "they'll be fine" casual attitude around babies and dogs.  You must always be on high alert, watching every single behavior between a human baby and dog.  Too many babies are bitten by dogs every year and it is due to a lack of safety precautions instilled by parents and caregivers.  This makes me crazy.

Each dog will react very different to the presence of a tiny baby.  It is our job as adult humans to watch and know.  If we do not know a dog as in a strange dog then just keep your baby away.

So what does Elsa think?  She is at this point, obsessed.  Elsa adores humans, I mean crazy type adores.  She comes unglued when someone talks to her; and visitors?  Yes please.  So when this little man came on the scene squeaking, groaning and crying; her interest was peaked to say the least.  At first she was over excited by the smell and sound.  Her pupils dilated in her desire to acquire the baby.  She wanted us to put him down for her; basically she wanted him much like she wants a brand new toy.  So, much care was taken to allow her to be with us the entire time but at a distance.  Once her excitement lessened she was allowed to smell feet.

Yesterday my second daughter arrived at our home with her baby as well; so Elsa is in full baby immersion.  She has now smelled them both over, all but their face and head; and sits watching them for hours.  She is still very excited by their presence but their squeaks are becoming acclimated.  She's pretty exhausted with her new baby watch.  As she becomes more use to their presence she is now allowed to sit beside the person holding the baby but not on the head side.  These precautions should be instilled with all babies and dogs.

It is extremely important to implement boundaries without instilling anger.  Dogs should not be banished and need to learn how to respect boundaries.  The more a positive time a dog spends with a baby the better.  If you simply yell at your dog and offer up negative association then what are you saying about the new baby?  Adults can teach a dog to hate the presence of a new baby; so offering safe, positive interactions which give the new baby a positive association is needed.

As the babies grow and become mobile, I have no doubt that Elsa will have two very adorable playmates.  She loves humans.  She loves children. These little beings are very funny sounding, smelling and looking humans.   She is learning very quickly to life with live squeaky toys.  

Offering a sense of safety

After much retrieving Elsa gives into her body's requirements for rest. 

Sitting in bed blogging, a crazy canine ruckus is going on outside our patio door.  The neighborhood dogs are at it again.  It sounds like a full on attack; of course I can't be sure of what is going on but is sounds like maybe fence fighting.  (another blog)  The noise is horrible, intense but short lived like every other time.  I glance over at Elsa and see that she is very sound asleep, nice.  She has learned what to be and not to be concerned with. 

Elsa is sound aslseep knowing that she is safe.  Having a sense of security is very important to a good sleep.  Depending on the dog, it may be less or more important.  But all dogs need a sense of safety to close their eyes and drift off into a deep and restful sleep.  I love watching Luke and Elsa dose off; their face twitching and feet moving as they dream.  It means that they feel free from danger; a place where they can relax and lay their head down. 

Sleep is very important for us and for our dogs.  A dog will only truly sleep when they feel safe; or when they have no choice from complete exhaustion.  Each is an individual; as such their requirements to feel safe will be different.  Highly alert and intense type dogs like Elsa need more to shut their eyes and enter into a realm of deep sleep.  She is also very nosey which factors into the whole sleep thing.  When Elsa was a puppy it was very hard for her to fall asleep; I had to put her away somewhere quiet or it wasn't happening.  She was not one of those puppies that fall asleep in your arms.

Very mellow, low key and old dogs have an easier time drifting off into the land of nod.  I love watching Luke fall asleep wherever he lays his head these days; but it hasn't come just with the old factor.  He feels safe here in his home.  A sense of safety comes from a feeling of being guarded; an impervious cloak of protection that is given by the leader, you.  Do you make your dog feel safe and secure?  Is there a sense of calm in your home? 

Stress can cause a lack of sleep; a lack of sleep causes more stress.  A stressed dog is not a happy dog.  Dogs need their sleep; not just a shut eye sleep, but a deep and dreamy sleep.  They need to regenerate as we do and the only way to do that is to have a really great sleep.  Giving your dog the sense of security needed to achieve that depth of sleep is essential.  You need to be the type of leader who calmly says "don't worry, I got this."  Dogs need calm guidance and leadership; offering this can achieve peace and tranquility, even when there is ruckus around. 

It makes me happy to see them sleep while the outside world is fence fighting; knowing they are secure because "I got this." 

Physical boundaries

                                                 Greeting Mom after a grocery shopping trip.  

      As I go back and forth from the car to get the groceries, Luke and Elsa wait calmly and patiently. 

Boundary training is one of the best things that you can ever teach your dog.  No matter where the boundaries are, you can use them to help teach more.  Once a dog "gets" the idea of not crossing an invisible boundary; their capacity to learn other boundaries goes us.  This type of boundary training that I am talking about is about not going into certain rooms, going out doors and gates or whole areas. 

Teaching a boundary like the door above will NEVER, EVER be a waste of time.  Once your dog is solid on a door boundary it is very easy to move to other doors.  Many dogs generalize well and will hesitate before going out any door.  Some need a tiny reminder of an error marker; a simple ahhhh as they consider going through. 

Door boundaries can take time to teach; especially if you have a guaranteed bolter.  But by simple rewarding them for NOT going out the door the learning curve can be achieved quickly.  When you start teaching a boundary you must leash your dog, in case. 

Learning boundaries does not mean that your dog will never be able to go a particular area but that they must wait for a release word.  Your release word can be anything; something that comes to mind, you can remember and is saved for that specific reason.  You can use the same release for feeding, stay and many other things where a release is needed.

Just yesterday, I needed to use a boundary as we have come to a new house for a couple of weeks.  Elsa quickly realized that running out is not an option and she must wait until told that she can.  I only needed one ahhh for her to understand that this too was a boundary. 

You will NEVER, EVER regret boundary training.