Dogs are probably the only thing you would put next to little ones that can slice, cut, and puncture their skin. Dogs have teeth and nails and whether they are playing or fighting they use them, especially when excited.
Look at it from the dog’s point of view. Sometimes the dog knows Mom is pregnant even before she does. More than a few times I have gotten a call from a client that their dog is acting strange all of a sudden. They are puzzled when I ask them if they are pregnant. Guess what, often they are. Mammals are mammals and dogs smell and sense it. It can also make them a little more protective.
Even though there is a lot going on, during your pregnancy is a great time to make sure your dog’s manners are where you want them. There will be people coming to the house to see the baby, and prior to that the main attraction in your house was the dog, or at least they thought they were. If your dog is overwhelming when guests arrive, he will be shooed away at best, and at worst you will become anxious and frustrated and put him in another room or outside. The dog is not stupid and will recognize that he is now left out, not unlike an older sibling may feel when the baby arrives. The presence of the baby should be a cue that calms the dog and means inclusion with the pack, not excites them which means exclusions. This takes work ahead of time. It will not happen on its own. Also, holding the baby in your arms and continuing to turn away when the dog tries to jump up to see them is a form of keep away from the dog and will excite them. When nails and teeth contact skin, skin loses whether it was playful or aggressive.
When the baby is born, take a blanket or something else that has the baby’s scent and introduce it to the dog. They will also smell it on you.
The worst possible thing you can do is only give the dog attention when the baby is not around. Trust me, they will make the connection. When it is quiet time and Mom is holding or nursing the dog, a well behaved, calm dog will add to the feeling of well being for Mom and baby. An anxious or excited dog will not be tolerated.
It is also a good time to talk about barking. Unwanted barking is annoying. Even more so when the baby is sleeping. It is very counter productive to yell at a dog to stop barking.
Of course the 800 lb elephant in the room is the physical introduction of the dog to the baby. A dog that is not calm to begin with cannot be expected to be calm around the baby. The baby will be very interesting to your dog, especially the sounds it makes. You need to be able to calmly communicate to your dog what is appropriate and what is not. Dogs investigate with their mouth and feet and they need to be shown their boundaries.
So, by now you can see where a session with us may be a great gift with the expectant mother.
Take things slow, relax, and look at things from the dog’s perspective.