Dog & Baby Training: Cribs & Canines Update

When our Atlanta dog trainer, Christina Dore, started Peachtree Dog Training over a decade ago, we received a lot of inquiries and cases ranging from mild issues to severe problems. After some time building our clientele and reputation as a training company you can trust, we took notice of a very specific issue that was coming up a lot – training a dog for a new baby. After seeing the need and demand, that’s when we started Cribs and Canines, our new and expecting parents dog training program!

I mentioned it’s been over a decade, so I figured it’s time to check in and let you know how Cribs and Canines has been over the years. While it does have similar training components to some of our other Atlanta private dog training programs (ie: puppy training, aggressive dog training, basic obedience and manners training, etc), it is specifically geared towards issues and situations when it comes to a dog and a baby. Many trainers out there will offer tips before the baby is born, such as letting the dog smell the baby’s blanket, playing baby  sounds off Youtube so the dog can hear them, blocking off access to the nursery, and so on. We’ll help you introduce your dog and train them how to associate the baby with positive experiences.

While we cover those bases as well, we also work on creating in-home habits and routines for both dog and humans before the baby is born and home. We understand that dogs are routine-based creatures and a baby can shake up all the routines. We want to then create a future new routine that is feasible for the parents and something that works for both the baby and the dog. For example, the diversion of attention can be a huge shock to the dog, and could impact important things like exercise and play. We then envision an exercise/play routine for the dog but with a newborn around and tailor it so that it is something doable for the parents to implement. So a dog that might be used to three walks a day might suddenly get only two or even one, we then figure out a way to supplement that – can that one walk be a little bit longer than the other ones, and perhaps set some time aside to do some enrichment play while the baby naps? We also are happy to point to resources that can assist such as trusted dog walkers, dog daycares, and more. And of course, as trainers, we are always going to encourage repetitive and enriching training for the dog as a way to mentally exercise and stimulate a dog. So if you miss that second walk of the day, maybe do some fun reward-based training drills that will keep your dog’s obedience up and anxiety levels down!

Of course, when the baby is born and home, we are there! We assess the dog’s behavior and body language when the baby is around, making noise, moving, etc. We make sure that there are no concerns for resource guarding, whether it is guarding food, a bed, a toy, the parents, or even the baby themself! If parents are seeing aggression around or toward the baby, we address that immediately and set up an environment to ensure safety for everyone. If parents are really loving the idea of going for a walk with the stroller but are concerned their dog’s leash pulling or reactivity might send the stroller and baby on a dangerous joyride, we take care of leash manners and work on desensitization with the stroller, to also make sure the dog isn’t frightened of it or jumps in it when the baby is in it.

Since we started Cribs and Canines, we have had so many parents reach out specifically for this program. We’ve seen parents simply wanting to avoid creating anxiety for their dog to wanting to instill basic boundaries with the baby (ie: no jumping, accidental play pawing or mouthing, snatching food from the baby’s hand, etc). We’ve also seen parents at their wits end and near tears because their dog is showing aggression around the baby and there’s concern about safety and whether or not the dog can continue living in the home. In the end, we always work toward realistic expectations that include BOTH baby and dog, and creating a household system that is easily maintained and can provide long-lasting behavioral results and household harmony.

Clearly not every dog owner is a parent or might ever want to be a parent to a human baby, but we’re happy we created a solution for those who want to set their dog and baby up for success and a happy, safe relationship together!

If you’re interested in our Cribs and Canines program, reach out to book your initial in-home consultation today!