Dogs' Behavior and Babies

I suspect it's jealousy AND protectiveness. I know my dogs are filled with both when it comes to my baby. I think I would not allow the dogs to ever get between you and the baby, just so that they see that they cannot divide you. It sounds like you have very sweet dogs.

M.,

I am a dog LOVER big time (My mother says “Toni would rather die and go to hell then part with her dogs”); so I say this with love....I would not have the baby on floor with your dogs. It only takes a split second for a dog bite. I'm all for letting the baby and the dogs get to know each other (you or another adult are holding the baby and monitoring the interaction) and when he is older they can play together, but until then, I would make sure baby and dogs are not on the same eye to eye level. (This goes for large or small dogs). This is not only for the baby's safety it is for your dog's safety too.

Blessings.....

I think the dogs just want to be in on the action too! My dog does this too, and we have always been fine with it as it wasn't aggressive in any way.

I think it might be a little bit of both maybe?? And the fact that they just love him! ;-) I have a dog and a 10-month-old and the dog is constantly just wanting to lay beside him, and lick him, and have the baby pet (or grab or pull at him lol). He loves the baby. Then all he has to do is hear a car door outside and he is sitting up between the baby and the door growling just in case somebody is going to come in. Then at times when I am holding the baby the dog will come and lay his head down in my lap and want some attention too. I think its fine as long as they aren't doing anything more than licking or laying beside him (although I don't really like when doggie licks baby's hands since he puts them in his mouth so much!) . They are used to all the attention and may still be trying to figure what's so special about this tiny human being! ;-) I still remember a day when my son was just a couple months old and in his play gym. The dog went and laid by his feet ... then scooted & looked at me ... the scooted some more ... he scooted until his head was right by babies and then he fell asleep there. I thought it was cute!

I am not sure what breed of dogs you have but that can make a difference too. There are many breeds that are by nature more nurturing and protective. I would agree with a couple of the other posts, that this maybe a bit of both nurturing and protectiveness. My suggestion is to watch all parties closely and take great care when they are close together. I wouldn't let the dogs get between you and your grandbaby. The dogs need to know who is the boss/pack leader in the house and that the baby is one of them. They need to know that they must also do what the baby asks of them. This is a great time to teach the baby how to interact around dogs and to treat them appropriately. It is also a good time to teach the baby that the dogs have boundaries and when they have reached those boundaries they are to be left alone. My son is almost 2 and has known for a long time that if the dog is under the bed she is not to be bothered, that is her "safe place". She also has a safe place under the foot of the recliner. My son doesn't bother her when she is in either spot. It is great to have kids and dogs together as long as they know how to treat each other appropriately. Good luck and have fun!

Hello - My dog did the same thing. I would be playing with the baby on the floor and he would get right in the middle of us. I think it was his way of saying that he just wanted to be part of the play as well. He would kiss the baby but never showed any signs of aggression either. I would rub him some and let the baby pet him so that he felt that he was included. I wouldn't worry about it because I think your dogs just want to be included and get to know your grandbaby as well.

Hi! I think maybe you should ask your veterinarian or a dog trainer/specialist. As a pet owner myself (and mom) I bet you will get answers all over the board, based on each person's actual experience. Whether they know what they are talking about or not! You may end up even more confused... I would talk to some folks who specialize in dog behavior so that you know for sure what is going on in those doggy minds, and know the best way to proceed. Good luck!

We had a professional dog trainer come into our home a few years ago and he told us that licking is a sign of submissiveness (which is always a good thing with a dog)! So I would say that your dog only has good intentions :)

my dogs did that with my baby like they were cleaning a puppy. I think its more of a possesiveness or a need to nurture. I think they think babies are puppies and it is a sign of love.

Dogs are pack animals, and they want to maintain their place in the pack. We all know some dogs that are more dominant or submissive than others. When we got our dog, as a puppy, we took her to training (more for us than her). Ours is a large mixed breed mut. Most were pedigree. The most mild-mannered was the Rottweiler, and the most dominant was a small lap dog. Go figure. Just like us, though, they have their own personalities.

We had it all figured out until our kids came along - so did the issues. I'm alpha. My husband was next, cat, then dog. Then kids come along and challenged our dog for spots.

We had to see an animal behavioralist because of thousands of dollars in damage to woodwork caused by our dog's separation anxiety.

So, my thought is that it's partly loving, partly protective and partly to see how they can maintain their place in the pack (especially since this is a grandchild and not a child in the home permanently). I don't think they'll cause any harm - it sounds like they're well trained. But, definitely keep an eye on it. The age of the dogs, their tolerance for "loving" from a child, what breed (some are instinctively more loyal and protective than others) will all be challenged as the baby gets older and more interactive.

Our 2 year old cries about every other day when the cat has had enough and scratches her. It's not the cat's fault, and we're to the point that we've told her time and time again to leave him alone. When she pushes, he pushes back, and she'll learn one way or another.

Sounds like the dogs just want to share in the lovin' and fun. Enjoy. :)

Just by the fact that you are asking the question, I feel that you are a little unsure about what your dogs may do. I think it totally depends on their personalities and if you are unsure if it is safe then you probably should stay on the side of safety. However, it sounds to me like they are accepting the baby and acting in a nuturing, protective way. In my experience, dogs that are untrustworthy with children usually act nervous and are not relaxed. It sounds like you have two dogs that are welcoming your grandbaby to the pack.

never allow an animal to put their head between a babys legs. the animal may decide..mmm..that smells good..i wonder what baby tastes like ??
would you really want a dog that spends hours every day with its head between its legs, diaper sniffing a baby...ewww.but aside from that, the fact that the dog is putting itself between you and the baby simply means that the dog sees the baby as in need of their protection, because the dog realizes that the baby is small and helpless. the foot licking is the dogs way of playing, bonding and grooming the baby.
K. h.