A Baby in the House
Dogs in the wild live in packs like families, and every pack member helps to care for pups. Like their wild cousins, Labs love the family “pups,” and they can accept babies willingly, if they're prepared for the new arrival. Begin introducing your Lab to the idea of a baby months before your baby arrives.
Learning about Babies
Most dogs are curious about babies, which sound, smell, and look different from older humans. If possible, arrange for your Lab to meet other babies so he can become accustomed to their scent, sound, and appearance. This helps him learn to recognize them as humans, not prey.
With the consent of the parent, let the dog sniff the baby, so he can add “infant smell” to the all the other scents stored in his brain.
Don't hold the baby out to the dog, or he may mistake it for prey or a toy and try to grab at it. Sit, cuddling the baby in your arms, and have the dog sit in front of you as he sniffs. This is best done only with a Lab that is well trained.
Training Is a Must
If you haven't obedience-trained your Lab, do it before the baby arrives. A dog can accidentally injure mother or baby by jumping up on or running into Mom while she's carrying the child. Teach your Lab to respond faithfully to the commands “Sit,” “Down,” “Off,” “Stay,” and “Come.”
Practice these commands while holding a doll or walking back and forth with it. Wrap the doll in a baby blanket and let the dog sniff it. Praise or reward your Lab with treats for behaving calmly toward the “baby.” Record the sounds of a baby crying or making other noises and play them frequently so your Lab learns to recognize and accept them.
Scent of a Baby
When the baby arrives, send a blanket impregnated with the baby's scent home with the new father. Let your Lab sniff it to his heart's content so he'll recognize the baby's scent when it comes home. When mother and baby arrive from the hospital, let your Lab greet Mom first, without the baby. Introduce the baby and dog later, after your Lab has had some time to assimilate the presence of the new family member.
Making Introductions
To make the dog-baby introductions, attach your Lab's leash and tell him to sit or down and stay. Keep the introductions gradual and controlled. If you're concerned that the dog might try to lunge at the baby, put a halter or muzzle on him first. (Practice having him wear it before the baby comes home so he's used to it.)
From a distance of 10 or 15 feet, show your Lab the baby. If he remains calm, the person handling him can gradually walk him closer to the baby to get within sniffing distance. Again, don't hold the baby out to the dog, but cuddle it close.
Keep your Lab on leash for his first few interactions with the baby. Reward him for behaving nicely and calmly around the baby. You want him to associate the baby with good things. Once you're satisfied with his behavior in the baby's presence, you can let him in the room off leash. Put him in a sit/stay or down/stay so he doesn't get underfoot.
Continue giving your dog attention after the baby arrives. Your Lab is used to being an important member of the family, so don't shunt him off to the garage or backyard because you don't have time for him. Involve him in the baby's daily routine by taking the two of them for walks or letting him stay in the room in a down/stay or sit/stay while you perform baby-care chores. With your help, your Lab should adjust well to the baby's presence.
It's unusual for Labs to be aggressive toward people or protective of objects, but if such is the case with your dog, take extra precautions when the baby is around. Never leave a baby unattended with the dog. In fact, never leave any baby (or toddler) unsupervised with any dog, no matter how sweet and loving the dog is.
