Introducing my pit bull to my newborn

by Loren
(Hamilton ohio)

I have a two year old female pit bull and she is sweet as can be. Never has shown any aggression toward ppl or other animals. Despite her past of being abused by previous owners. We have had her for over a year :)

My only concern is she is very needy and calls for alot of attention. How can i help her to adjust to my newborn? I'm due in a couple of weeks. and would like to make the transition easy for everyone in the family.

Gale's Reply:

Hi Loren

Congrats on your new arrival!

I think the biggest thing to think about is if you anticipate changing your pit bull's schedule (walks, feedings, playtime, etc.), is to start making those changes now so that she has time to adjust. And then try to stick to that schedule as closely as possible.

When you bring your baby home, a lot of people recommend that you let someone else carry the baby when you walk in the door--especially if your dog is likely to run up to greet you or jump on you. That way you can give her the same greeting you normally would. You don't want her first encounter with the baby to be associated with being scolded. Once she's settled down, you can introduce her to the baby.

If you intend to make the nursery off-limits, you may want to put up a gate or barrier that keeps her out. That way, you won't need to scold her for transgressing.

Of course, if your pit already has solid obedience skills, you may not need to do these things. But, if her response to commands like "down stay" is sketchy, it's better to dog-proof the environment. It will save wear on everyone's nerves for now. But, do work on her obedience skills as you have time.

Of course, it goes without saying, (but I'll say it just to be thorough) always supervise your dog's interactions with your child.

Best wishes to you and your family. Feel free to post back here if you have other questions.

For more information on obedience training, visit our Pit Bull Training page.

For help with behavioral problems, check out our Dog Behavior Training page.