10 month old dobermann with a new born human

[Maze]

Hello ladies and gents,

So my son was just born Monday, (mind you have a 8 and 6 year old too) how did you go about introducing a new born to your dog?

I already let Maze sniff his clothes and sniff my sons legs. She has licked the feet.

Remember I got Maze from the pound about 1 month ago so don't completely trust her.

What else can I do to assess Maze's behavior around a new born without putting my son at risk of a rough/excited doberman. Maze hasn't displayed signs of aggression to any of us in the home, but you can never be too safe around any animal.

Your experience and advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Spoonito]

This sounds kind of weird, but maybe put some of your baby's clothes on one of those dolls that makes noises and let Maze get closer? This way same scent as your newborn and not putting the baby in any danger since you feel Maze is not completely trusted yet.

 

[Viemarangelrock]

Firstly, congratulations on your new baby!

My eldest daughter, Jemma was born when my boy Jake was approximately 3/4 years old. He’d never been around tiny babies before so it was all about supervision and letting him investigate, gently with constant supervision. Keep it brief to start with and watch her body language. If she is calm around the new baby make sure to praise her.

When Jemma was on the floor, on a mat, Jake was crated. It was safer that way as we all know how clumsy they can be.
Make great use of baby gates, too. They’re an amazing tool.

 

[Maze]

Firstly, congratulations on your new baby!

My eldest daughter, Jemma was born when my boy Jake was approximately 3/4 years old. He’d never been around tiny babies before so it was all about supervision and letting him investigate, gently with constant supervision. Keep it brief to start with and watch her body language. If she is calm around the new baby make sure to praise her.

When Jemma was on the floor, on a mat, Jake was crated. It was safer that way as we all know how clumsy they can be.
Make great use of baby gates, too. They’re an amazing tool.

Thank you very much.. this is the first time I am able to stay home and help my wife.. first two kids i had to always be working.

Awesome. I forgot to mention I do praise her as she looks and stands near the parent who's holding the baby.

Seems like I'm on the right path. I did mention to my wife baby gates!

As of today Maze is roaming like normal while we hold the baby within the same area as the dog. No jumping or excessive sniffing/lingering. Also she isnt allowed into any of the bedrooms. So i think that's helping more.

Thank you for the tips and reassurance.

 

[Maze]

This sounds kind of weird, but maybe put some of your baby's clothes on one of those dolls that makes noises and let Maze get closer? This way same scent as your newborn and not putting the baby in any danger since you feel Maze is not completely trusted yet.

Thats an interesting one. I'll have to sacrifice (potentially) one of my kids dolls ha. Ill do that one the next step of exposure comes. Kinda like a test run.

 

[MyBuddy]

Just never, ever, leave the two alone together.

 

[PhilT]

When we had our first baby boy our blue boy Zeus was almost 6yrs old so we were obviously very worried how he would behave with this new little person arriving in his home, the first day we bought our baby son home we put him in a raised carry cot and brought Zeus to meet him he had a good sniff around gave us some concerned looks , we took the baby out and let Zeus have a closer inspection praised him and made sure he received attention he had a couple off gental licks and when we put the baby back in the cot settled down next to it, we knew we would not be able to just leave them alone for the near future but wanted for Zues to understand this is another member off our pack, our first surprise came later that day when my mother inlaw came with my wife's auntie to see the new arrival Zues stood up infront of the cot and blocked their way to the cot until we told him it was OK he stayed very close to them when they picked the baby up and kept checking with us it was OK settled back down next to the cot when they left next surprise was when the baby cried rushed to each of use in turn with a worried look kept on looking back to where the baby was crying as much as to say you need to do something here, was most interested watching breast feeding but never got to close, the next surprise was when we put our baby boy down in his room to sleep Zues dragged his bed from his normal sleeping place in the lounge to outside the babys room and that was where it stayed, when we went out with him and the pram wouldn't let anyone near the pram until we told him it was OK, was the same when we had our baby daughter two years later he then moved his bed between their separate rooms was quite something to see always very protective of the kids as they grew up but there again thats what they were bred to do.

 

[Gelcoater]

When we had our first baby boy our blue boy Zeus was almost 6yrs old so we were obviously very worried how he would behave with this new little person arriving in his home, the first day we bought our baby son home we put him in a raised carry cot and brought Zeus to meet him he had a good sniff around gave us some concerned looks , we took the baby out and let Zeus have a closer inspection praised him and made sure he received attention he had a couple off gental licks and when we put the baby back in the cot settled down next to it, we knew we would not be able to just leave them alone for the near future but wanted for Zues to understand this is another member off our pack, our first surprise came later that day when my mother inlaw came with my wife's auntie to see the new arrival Zues stood up infront of the cot and blocked their way to the cot until we told him it was OK he stayed very close to them when they picked the baby up and kept checking with us it was OK settled back down next to the cot when they left next surprise was when the baby cried rushed to each of use in turn with a worried look kept on looking back to where the baby was crying as much as to say you need to do something here, was most interested watching breast feeding but never got to close, the next surprise was when we put our baby boy down in his room to sleep Zues dragged his bed from his normal sleeping place in the lounge to outside the babys room and that was where it stayed, when we went out with him and the pram wouldn't let anyone near the pram until we told him it was OK, was the same when we had our baby daughter two years later he then moved his bed between their separate rooms was quite something to see always very protective of the kids as they grew up but there again thats what they were bred to do.

Dang it, Phil.
My eyes leaked a little reading that.

@Maze
Don’t be surprised if watching over the little one becomes priority number ONE!
It’s always amazed me how some dogs are just very tuned in to what’s going on.

 

[PhilT]

@Gelcoater my post earlier is not the only experience we have had with dobies and babies our son and his wife were living with use when our granddaughter was born King was 2 1/2 when she was born and when they brought her home he took over watch duties with the baby always had to be near her going to tell them when she cried having to be within touching distance when he was on the floor play mat, they moved to their new house when she was 20 months and King used to keep going upstairs and walk around in what was her bedroom for days when they left he even went off his food for a while, when they came to visit he would go mad lick her run round and round her always with one off his toys in his mouth, he didn't ever react when she pulled his ears tried to pull his tongue, poked him in the eyes tried to insert things up his bottom he just looked at us with a please help me face he loves it when we have both the grandchildren a couple of times a week even when he is not feeling well he has to fuss around them never had a bad experience with our dobies and children thankfully we believe that they feel responsible for little ones .

 

[AnnV]

So touching @PhilT, they understand so many things, amazing stories.

 

[Maze]

Nice touching stories. I noticed after the babies 1st week at home, Maze will look with curiosity and also check for where he is; crib, carried, bed etc. Once she finds him she simply goes back to carrying on her business. As of now the dog isn't allowed inside any bedroom. Don't want pet hair all over the beds and carpet.

I confine her to the kitchen, living room and hall way in the apartment. She has licked my sons legs and seems to be very attentive with commands given when my wife or I hold our new born.

She does however shove her snout into him which is understandable; she doesn't know she can hurt the baby or be misunderstood by us humans.

 

[PhilT]

Glad things are going well sounds like you have things under control and doings the right things you are correct about the shoving the snout into him and watch out for the paw dab dobies tend to be a bit clumsy they don't understand how strong they are and how something they do as affection could be harmful to a little baby but keep it up and you will have a unpaid nanny

 

[Oh Little Oji]

Both of our children have been brought home to an adult male Dobe. 4-6 years old the dogs have been.

We were quite leery. These are working Dobermans with expected intensity, bite, and prey drive.

There were no direct incidents of aggression in the earliest days. Our previous Dobe did have a major issue though, that caused him to click into instant aggression mode and lash out at people, including family members. We really just kept him outside until the child's bedtime. On just one occasion we were all in the kitchen and he stiffened up and got that look in his eye toward our toddler. I was there ready to explode into him and make him part of the wall, but I headed it off before he attacked. Horrific to even think about thinking of what would happen to a child who lacks the reaction time to jerk away from snapping jaws.

Oji here has been good with our younger child in most all ways. Was quite curious the first couple days or so. You know, it's in this area where we have been able to see how much Oji does see me as Alpha. Despite all the areas where he is slow to obey, and unwilling, when it comes to interacting with our current baby/toddler, he looks to me.

We have had two or three incidents where he has been laying and the toddler walks toward him close enough that he feels he has to get up and move, and he has snapped at the air toward her. Other times he brings his face right toward her face quickly but I think this is, in part, the physiology involved in getting up – the dog's head jerks forward. No less scary and worrisome. On one occasion when he was laying in a sunbeam on the living room rug, he not only snapped toward her, but I saw his jaws around her forearm, but teeth did not make contact. This, in the space of maybe 1/3 of a second.

Each time I have seen Oji do this sort of thing, I have come down on him with maximum pressure in terms of sternness and fury, but have done nothing more than a scruff-grab/shake in terms of the physical. Any more, and we are at a stalemate with him threatening to bite me.

After that forearm incident, my mind went right to: Okay. We have to get rid of him. Really, it would be the wisest thing to do, rather than allowing there to be any chance of harm to our little child.

Well, I hope I didn't get anyone to tear up with my touching tales here

Do watch out for your child approaching your Dobe when he's laying comfortably – especially in a sunbeam.

 

[NamVetJoe]

A lot of outdoor walking together The baby in a stroller stopping often paying attention to the baby and then your Dobie let him know the baby is not just a house guest but a part of the pack

 

[Maja Rocks]

I never had a problem with any of my Dobermans and our children or anyones else's children for that matter.
I don't know if it is a scent thing babies and puppies do smell different from their adult counterparts.
My dobermans were always very gentle and affectionate with our children and were our kids best buddies and playmates..And yes they were also very protective of them.


The main thing that we worked on was making sure that the dogs still received plenty of attention and did not overly disrupt our dogs life.
(as much as having a baby does not disrupt ones life) Making sure that they still went on their walks and got lots of treats ,exercise & playtime.

The only time I have heard of there being problems with dobermans and new additions to the family is when suddenly the dog is banished from the house, stops receiving affection and attention and they become isolated.
Congratulations
MR

 

[LifeofRubie]

Congrats on the new baby!!

I wouldn't even say "aggression" is what you need to be wary of. I'm sure your older kids have been instructed not to pull, chase, taunt, hug, or otherwise both the dog in the way that dogs may not like to be bothered. The baby can't do any of those things (yet). Dogs that are hugged, teased, taunted, grabbed, etc., don't react because they are aggressive; they react because they can't say "Get the eff out of my face" any other way.

My Dobe is not a gentle empath so my worry with her is stomping and punching I have no concerns about aggression but she will try and flips things that she doesn't understand over with her nose, or jab her nose into something like a spear. Moose would know from his puppy days!

 

[Maze]

Thanks everyone so far so good over here. Your input has taught me things I worried about (no longer worried) also has reinforced what I do know about the dog species.

 

[MyBuddy]

Thanks everyone so far so good over here. Your input has taught me things I worried about (no longer worried) also has reinforced what I do know about the dog species.

Good! Keep us updated on how its going!