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CHILDREN AND PETS
The birth of a baby or adoption of a new child is associated
with a great deal of anxiety, excitement, and stress for not
only the family, but also the family pet. Some dogs and cats
can have a difficult time adjusting to these changes,
especially if this is your first child, but preparation and
planning will help.
How is my pet likely to respond to the new arrival?
There are so many different variables that it is impossible
to accurately predict the way that any pet might get along
with children. However, there are considerations that give
some insight into how your pet might react.
How much exposure has your pet had previously to
children? How has your pet reacted when it has been
exposed? The most serious concern would be with a pet that
has previously reacted aggressively or fearfully with
children. If there have been previous problems you should
consult with a veterinary behaviorist to determine the
situations that have previously led to aggression, and the
safest way, if any, to make the transition. If the pet’s
previous problems were with a specific child, a specific age
group or under specific circumstances, it may be possible to
design a program that emphasizes safety and works to adapt
the pet gradually to stimuli and situations that are similar
to the previous situations in which the pet was aggressive
to a child. A desensitization and counter-conditioning
program (see our handout on behavior modification) may
improve or resolve the pet’s anxiety prior to the arrival of
the child. In addition, there must be a means for physically
and verbally controlling the pet so that safety can be
insured when the child and pet are together.
The next most serious concern is the pet that has had little
or no exposure to young children or babies. Without any
prior experience it is difficult to predict how the dog may
react. A lack of early socialization to children may lead to
some initial anxiety or fear associated with the sights,
sounds and odors of the new child. If there are no
unpleasant experiences when the child first arrives, and the
first few introductions are made positive, there may be no
problems. Even if a pet has shown no previous problems when
interacting with children, keeping all introductions
positive will help to get the relationship between your pet
and your new child off to a good start.
One final concern is the growth and development of your
child. As your child progresses from being carried to one
that rolls, crawls, and begins to walk, and so on through
childhood, some pets may have trouble adapting to one or
more of these changes. Fear, dominance challenges,
possessive displays, and playful behaviors could result in
aggression. Anxiety or fear could lead to anorexia,
compulsive disorders (e.g. flank sucking, acral lick
dermatitis), or destructiveness (e.g. house-soiling,
marking, chewing, digging). Remember, regardless of how your
pet may respond, a dog and a young child should never be
left alone unsupervised.
What can we do to prepare for the new arrival?
Behavior problems (destructiveness, house-soiling,
compulsive disorders, increased demands for attention,
generalized anxiety) may not develop directly from the
arrival of the child, but rather from the changes in the
household, associated with the new arrival. With nine months
or more to prepare for a baby’s arrival, the best way to
minimize problems and help the pet to cope is to make
changes gradually so that they have been completed prior to
the arrival of the child. Consider any changes that you may
need to make in the pet’s schedule, housing, play, exercise,
or attention, so that adjustments can begin to be made well
before the baby’s arrival. Design a daily routine of social
times and alone times that can be practically maintained
after the baby arrives. Be certain that the program meets
all of the dog’s needs for physical activity, social contact
and object play / chew toys. Set up the nursery in advance
and if the pet is to be kept out of the room, access should
be denied before the child’s arrival. Otherwise, if your
intention is to allow your pet to continue to enter the room
when supervised, begin to accompany your pet into the
nursery, so that it can adapt to the new odors and new
setup. The dog should be allowed to investigate the baby’s
room, blankets, and new furniture, and praised or given a
small food treat so that it can develop a positive
association with each of these new cues.
For dogs, reviewing or upgrading obedience skills is
essential so that you can safely and effectively control
your dog in all situations (see our handout on learn to
earn). Obedience training should be reviewed every day, in a
variety of locations and circumstances. Practice each
command in different rooms of the home, in the yard, while
out on walks, and when visitors come to the home.
Concentrate on those commands that are presently the least
successful, using prompts and rewards to achieve success and
then gradually shaping the response so that the pet stays
for progressively longer times, comes from greater distances
and will heel and follow even when there are distractions.
Any existing behavior problems should be resolved before the
arrival of your baby. Using a head halter will facilitate
control and the learning of these tasks.
Is crate training advisable?
It also might be prudent to teach your pet how to be
comfortably confined in a safe, secure and relaxing area.
With new children in the home, unexpected visitors and the
other disruptions that go with a changing household it would
be beneficial if the dog were able to be placed in another
location without showing distress or anxiety. Start with
teaching the dog how to settle on command (see our handout
on teaching settle) in a comfortable and out of the way
location. Once the dog can do this well, try placing a baby
gate on the doorway while you are also in the room but
occupied doing other things such as watching television or
reading. It might help to provide the dog with a stuffed
chew toy to make the time more enjoyable, Once the dog can
stay with you in the room for a long period of time, try
sitting just on the other side of the gate. Finally, slowly
move your chair down the hallway so that the dog can learn
to remain calm and comfortable as you move away. Be sure to
vary the time the dog is confined prior to be released and
only release the dog when it is calm and quiet, never when
it barks and whines. The goal is for the dog to learn how to
be comfortable in a separate, safe and secure location
without you while you are home. (Also see our handout on
crate training)
Are there more specific preparations that I can make as
the time of arrival approaches?
Some pets might become anxious of, or fearful toward, any of
the new and different stimuli associated with the sights,
sounds, or odors of the new child. New activities associated
with childcare can be practiced in front of pets so that
they can become familiar with them. Tape recordings or
videos of babies crying, holding a doll wrapped in a
blanket, taking your dog for a walk beside a stroller or
baby carriage, or even going through the motions of changing
a diaper and applying baby powder will simulate some of the
experiences to which your pet will soon be exposed. If there
is any sign of anxiety associated with any of these
situations, then more formal reward-based training should be
practiced and repeated until the pet exhibits no problems in
the presence of the stimuli. By providing a favored chew
toy, giving a food reward, or providing extra affection
during these activities, your pet may actually learn to
enjoy these new stimuli.
Once your pet shows no fear or anxiety in some or all of
these situations, you may want to enlist the help of some
friends or relatives with young children. Dogs can be taken
for a walk while the child is rolled in the stroller or
carriage. A baby can be carried around the home or nursed in
the presence of the dog and children should be encouraged to
play at the opposite end of a room or yard from where the
dog is situated. The dog must be well controlled, preferably
with a leash and head halter, and given food rewards and/or
play to keep the association positive. A wire-meshed or
plastic basket muzzle could also be applied to ensure
additional safety, especially when being exposed to new
situations. By the end of the visit it may even be possible
to let the dog interact with the child but only if it
remains friendly and shows no fear or anxiety.
Is there anything special I should do for my cat to
prepare for the arrival of a child?
For cats, the most important adaptation is to any changes
that will be needed in the cat’s home. Although fear and
anxiety to the sights and sounds of a new baby are possible,
adapting to changes in the household are often the most
trying for cats. For example, obtaining new furniture,
altering the cat’s feeding, sleeping, elimination or play
areas, and trying to keep the cat out of certain locations
such as the crib, should all be considered before the
arrival of the baby. To reduce the chances of the cat
marking new furniture, the first few introductions to the
new areas should be well supervised. Once your cat has
investigated and rubbed against the new furniture, spraying
is far less likely. Similarly, when the crib or cradle is
first set up, the cat may wish to mark the area, or
investigate, or even to sleep in the crib. Booby trapping
areas (see our handout Controlling undesirable behavior in
cats – the role of punishment) can teach the cat to stay
away from the areas of concern, well before the baby arrives
in many situations pheromones can help keep the cat calm and
prevent spraying.
Remember, each of these techniques are intended to help the
pet adapt to changes in the household or lifestyle before
the arrival of the baby. Once the baby arrives, there will
be far less time to deal with the needs of the pet, and
there will be additional variables to which your pet will
need to adapt. Even if your pet does begin to exhibit fear
or anxiety, during this pre-arrival training, such anxiety
will not be associated with the presence of the child. The
cat will have no reason to develop animosity to the new
child.
What should be done when the baby arrives?
Progress gradually, avoid any situations that might lead to
fear, anxiety or discomfort in the baby’s presence and make
all associations and experiences in the baby’s presence
positive. Maintain or even increase the amount and type of
training, exercise, and play. When necessary use your
pre-trained confinement area when you need to concentrate on
the baby without interruption.
Even a curious and affectionate pet may have some problems
adjusting to the new arrival. Jumping up to greet when the
baby is being carried, barking during the baby’s sleep or
nap times, raiding the diaper pail, licking the baby’s face,
or cuddling up to sleep against an infant who is still
unable to shift position are just a few of the concerns and
potential problems that pet owners may need to deal with.
Keep your pet’s nails well trimmed. Supervise all
interactions between the pet and baby. Keep the pet out of
the baby’s room during nap and sleeping times. Ensure that
your dog is well controlled and responsive to obedience
training commands. For some dogs, leaving a leash attached
(preferably to a head collar) is a useful way to ensure
additional control.
The most important aspect of retraining is to reward the pet
for obedient and relaxed behavior in the presence of the
child. In many households there will be less time and energy
available for the pet. While focused on the child, or
attending to the chores associated with parenthood, the pet
may be ignored, disciplined for approaching too close, or
confined to a different area of the home. Your pet may still
receive its play, exercise, affection, food and attention,
but often not until the baby is finally asleep or is under
the care of some other family member. Many pets soon learn
that the presence of the baby is a time for inattention,
confinement, or even punishment, while the absence of the
baby is a cue for “good things” to happen. This must be
reversed. Every effort should be made to allow the pet into
the room for food, play or affection when the baby is
present. Feed the pet when the baby is being fed, or have
another family member give affection to the pet, play with
the pet, or do some reward training (stay, go to your mat)
when the child is in the room. Take your dog outdoors for
play or a walk when you are taking the child out. The goal
is to teach the pet that positives or “good things” are most
likely to happen in the presence of the child and to avoid
any negative association with the child.
What should be done if aggression arises?
Such behavior is very upsetting, regardless of its reasons.
An immediate decision on whether to keep and work with the
pet or remove it from the home must be made. Dogs targeting
children may be motivated by fear, dominance, possessive,
redirected, playful or predatory aggression. Such aggression
(particularly predatory and fear) may arise immediately when
the child is brought into the home, or may begin as the
child becomes more mobile (e.g. fear, predation, possessive,
play) or when the child grows a little older and begins to
challenge the dog (fear, dominance, possessive, play). Cat
aggression toward children can be fear-induced, redirected,
territorial, or play/predatory. For most aggression cases,
especially those directed toward children, the guidance and
advice of a behaviorist is strongly suggested since it will
be necessary to make an accurate diagnosis, determine the
prognosis (the chances of safe and effective treatment) and
guide you through a treatment program. Although some cases
may be treated quickly and safely, most cases require
extensive precautions to prevent injuries and a great deal
of time, effort and commitment. Regardless of reason for
aggression, biting dogs should be leashed (attached to the
owner) preferably with a head collar, muzzled and closely
supervised or crated in the presence of small children.
Aggressive cats should be confined away from small children
except when they are in a carrier, on a leash and harness,
or well supervised and either calm or otherwise occupied
with food or toys. For a discussion of specific types of
aggression ask for our other handouts.
How can I teach my children to be safe around pets?
Although there are no rules that will guarantee safety,
there are important guidelines that can be followed to
reduce the chances of problems and the risk of injury. The
first rule of thumb is to avoid doing anything to the dog
that you might not want your child to do. This would include
physical punishment, rough play, or teasing. Children must
be taught how to interact with and handle their family pet
including how to approach, pat or lift small pets. Wherever
possible, play sessions and training should include the
children with the supervision of a parent. This can begin
from the time the dog is a puppy by attending puppy classes
and obedience classes that include all members of the
family. If the pet has not previously exhibited
possessiveness of food or toys, the adults can practice with
the children approaching the dog at its food bowl, patting
and giving favored treats, along with teaching the give or
drop command for favored treats. It may be best to use a
leash and head halter during this training if there is any
concern that the dog might resist or become anxious.
While your dog may appear to tolerate or even enjoy handling
from people of all ages, you must teach your child how to
meet, greet and handle animals. The child will be safest if
taught to avoid hugging, tugging on the leash, collar or
tail and handling around the eyes, ears and muzzle. Even if
the dog is familiar it is best to avoid reaching toward the
head or face-to-face greetings.
Children must also be taught that strange pets may not
behave in the same way as their family pet. A simple rule is
that the child should NEVER approach another family’s pet
without being given permission and then to approach slowly
and avoid reaching for the head and face. Children should be
taught to avoid pets entirely if they are displaying any
signs that might indicate fearfulness (shaking, ears back,
tail between legs, crouch, trying to escape) or aggression
(growling, showing teeth, barking, hair standing on end).
Although most children would be tempted to run away from an
aggressive dog, they should be taught to stand still like a
tree, with the arms against the body, and avoid eye contact
and yelling or screaming. If the child is on the ground they
should curl up and cover their head and ears with their arms
and fists, and remain still until the dog moves away. Any
threatening dog or bite should be immediately reported to an
adult. |
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Cherokee Trail Hours:
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday thru Friday
8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Saturday
Appointments Preferred |
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