Expert Advice on Babies, Kids and Pets -
Andrew's Response

Mum Zone's resident Pet Expert Andrew of Hanrob is available to answer some of your questions.

Topics include: Preparing your dog for a new baby, introducing your children to a dog or cat, identifying dog or cat behaviours, what to do if a dog is aggressive towards you or your child, how to choose the right dog or cat for your family, dog training, how to deal with dog behavioural issues, sleeping arrangements for your pet, pet hygiene, desexing - when to do it, walking your dog with a pram, pet routine and exercise.

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Reader's Question

We have 5 huskies that are all outdoor dogs and we are planning on having a baby. How do we go about preparing the dogs for the new arrival and what boundaries should we have in place?

Andrew's Response

I can see you are a definite dog lover! And also a responsible dog owner as you wish to prepare for this big change well in advance, so you’re off to a great start.

First of all, you need to plan ahead for your family. Ask yourself questions such as "Do I eventually want my child to be able to play in the back yard?" and "How much interaction with my dogs do I want for baby?". This may mean you erect a pen for the dogs in a different area to where you want to interact with your baby. If you do this, ensure it is well in advance of the new arrival, so they don’t associate the new restriction with the baby. You may also want to plan for how you control interaction between the dogs and baby. Five huskies will certainly be very overwhelming for a young child, so you need to prepare for positive interactions for both baby and dogs. This may involve interactions with one or two of the dogs at a time, or choosing a later time in the day for interaction when the dogs are a little calmer. You will need to find a good balance between an inclusive family relationship, and having safe, preventative boundaries in place. Always supervise any interaction.

It is important that your dogs are aware of their place in the family, and that they must respect you as well as love you. Ensure they are all well-trained and able to control their emotions and excitement when directed by you. This will lay the foundation for safe, controlled and positive experiences for both your dogs and your family.

Good luck for the future of your family.

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