Emma and Sophie - what to do???

[diane silver]

Okay, all you Doodlers, I need some help here.  We now have a new granddaughter, Sophie, who is almost 4 weeks old; Emma has met her twice now, and I am really grappling with how to "introduce" them correctly.  I've kept Emma on a short leash because she wants to literally jump on top of her and kiss her (or maybe eat her, I don't really know).  Anyway, I know Emma is jealous and doesn't know what Sophie is (maybe she thinks she's a new puppie, or a squirrel?).  I've let her kiss her hands and feet, but whenever the baby makes a noise (which is often, obviously), Emma barks and really is agitated.  I want the experience to be a positive one, but I don't want to be worried that she's going to jump all over the baby, or keep barking and being agitated and upset.  I do think that the more often Emma is exposed to the baby, she'll eventually get used to her . . . right??  We have two grandsons, also, ages 4 and 6, and she's really very good with them (though she really thinks the younger one is a puppy).  I don't have any fear of aggression, but I just want Emma to be calm around the new baby.  Please help with any suggestions - (Adina - I know you've been through this, but please remember, Emma doesn't "live" with this new addition to the family)!!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Perhaps keep her in the same room close to the baby, but still a few feet away. If the baby makes noise, distract her with a high level treat and put her into a down, sit, or stay. Maybe after a while of being desensitized to the noise, it will be easier for her to meet her face to face. Also, act as calm as possible, and speak to her in a monotone voice while she is meeting the baby. She may be picking up on your nervousness, which could be causing hers. Good luck!

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Maybe try practicing with a doll at your house and train with the doll, calling it sophie, baby etc. I have seen Victoria Stillwell do this on her program.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Our newest grandson is now six months old. He is the first baby in the family since we got the Doodles. I will admit I was very cautious of the dogs around him for the first few months. I do think it's different with a baby who is living there versus one who visits. Guinness is older and calm, so he was no worry. He sniffed the baby a few times and that was it. Murph was very curious, and so I kept him on a leash (which he usually dragged) whenever the baby was here. I don't have to do that anymore, but I did for the first few months. That way when he started to jump (usually on me holding the baby), I could either correct him or step on the leash to prevent him from jumping. He did not like it when the baby cried...he got nervous and either barked or paced. If I was alone with the baby and he started that he went into his crate or I gated him out of the room I was in so that I could take care of the baby. He's pretty used to the baby now, so things are much easier, and I really don't have to worry. Congratulations on your new granddaughter. I'm sure she will grow up loving your Emma. My 7 year old granddaughter is fantastic with our dogs....and she loves coming here to visit so she can play with her "puppies".

[Adrianne Matzkin]

When I need to desensitive the girls to something new and scary, it treat, treat, treat when they hear that scary sound. They seem to 'get' that the sound = a treat.
So with Sophie try putting some super high value treats near her for Emma to 'find'. When Sophie cries, treat, treat, treat Emma. She will equate the cry with a treat. It won't be so 'scary'.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Adina and Clark introduced the dogs to baby Natalie and she wrote about it here. Send her a message and I am sure she will direct you to her post. It was awesome. The let the dogs smell something of Natalie's first and did a step by step thing.

[Adina P]

Gosh I don't know if I have an answer for you. All of my dogs took to our baby really well. The toughest was Thule because she wanted to become the baby's mother and lick her every possible second she could. But there was no intent to jump on the baby or anything like that.

Emma might NOT be calm around the baby...at least not at first. If you're not afraid of any aggression or freaking out...then 'calm' will come with experience and by using her obedience to help her KNOW what to do (i.e. down stay, sit stay) near the baby. Always give her something to do in the baby's presence and perhaps if you or the baby's mom holds baby in her arms at the Emma's level, then Emma won't have to jump up and can just sniff the baby.

[Natasha]

Some thoughts:

-Ask for a blanket that the baby has been swaddled in for some time. Keep the blanket in a spot near where you would hold the baby (for instance, on the couch). Pick up the blanket and then call Emma to you - have her smell it but not get too close to it (you want to have Emma learn that she can be interested but she can't crowd you or the baby), and then hold the blanket (maybe drape it over your shoulder) and pet Emma. Repeat often but it doesn't need to be for long periods of time.

-Get a CD with baby noises (search online - they have them) and add that into the mix (sorry - it will be annoying). Treat Emma in addition to petting her. She will become less concerned over a short period of time. Avoid using excitement or a high pitched voice - simple "good girl"and calm petting will be enough.

HOWEVER - this will not desensitize her to strange movements and she will be very interested in that. Remember - smell first, then sound and site.

The blanket is key to getting Emma feeling ok about the situation. When the baby is over, you will need to help Emma understand the barriers/space that she is allowed to enter. Does she know the "back" command? If so, while holding the baby, give the back command and then have someone treat her as soon as she steps back to the distance that you are comfortable with and you say "GOOD GIRL - GOOD BACK" so that she sees she's being rewarded for respecting the boundaries rather than punished and not the center of attention. Actually, you could probably practice this with the blanket as well.

Finally, while the baby is young, you might consider putting Emma in a separate room when your family first comes over so that everyone can get settled before Emma is brought into the situation. The excitement around guests arriving is a lot and you will naturally show a lot of enthusiastic joy toward the baby which could either cause Emma to jump up to see what's going on/grabbing your attention or she might start to get a little jealous. Minimizing this excitement for Emma will help her curiously explore the baby (smell, site, sound) without inadvertently introducing some unwanted behavoior and resulting corrections.