The car ride home from the hospital was full of firsts. It was the first time for my newborn son in a car. It was the first time for him in a car seat. It was the first time I made his father drive a slow and safe 39 mph in Los Angeles traffic. And when we got home, it was going to be the first time our two dogs would be meeting our newborn baby. I knew that starting our family off on the right foot was necessary, and this meeting could set the tone for all of us, human and canine, to happily coexist.
In the four years we’d had them, our two border collies had proven themselves kind, affectionate, and (true to their breed) the real brains of our family. My husband’s go-to joke is that our older dog, Adelaide, hooked up our TiVo. I assumed that with her level of intelligence, Adelaide would understand that my son was a part of me and therefore an instant part of our family. Our second border collie, Percy, was her sidekick and would follow her lead in this. For a while, I figured that since they love me, they’d automatically love my child.
Taking time to introduce the old pack to the newly forming one would make for less stress, both for us and for the dogs.
But eight weeks before the baby was born, my sister asked me how I was going to introduce Adelaide and Percy to the baby. At first, I imagined tiny paws shaking tiny baby hands in a formal and cordial introduction. But my sister was serious.
As a dog owner herself, she had done her own research. She knew the benefits of planning a first meeting. Taking time to introduce the old pack to the newly forming one would make for less stress, both for us and for the dogs. A canine’s stress can manifest in different ways: panting, shaking, hiding, diarrhea, and severe mood changes. I didn’t want to create a situation where my furry friends felt unsupported.
According to the ASPCA, it’s best to choose a quiet room for the initial introduction, sit down with the baby in your arms, and then let your dog sniff the baby’s feet for a couple of seconds. These were excellent tools I knew I could use to help our dogs accept our new resident.
Since I wanted my dogs to have a smooth transition, I decided to bring our vet into the picture, too. She had known them since they were tiny puppies, and knowing their personalities, she didn’t feel the need for any special precautions—like keeping them separate from the baby for a time, which is often recommended. Our vet also suggested taking home a blanket our newborn had been snuggling in and letting the dogs smell it. This way Adelaide and Percy could become used to the new scent before we brought the baby back to the house.
Now that we were pulling into our driveway, I felt prepared and confident. My husband and I planned that I’d go inside first and greet the dogs properly, and then he, the alpha male of our pack, would come in after me, carrying the baby. I could feel the tingles of excitement at seeing my furry friends again. I hadn’t seen them in over a week, and I’d missed their cuddles and comfort. I was relieved I’d get to say my hellos on my own.
Adelaide and Percy sniffed and peered into the blanket, ala Lady and the Tramp. I petted their heads and explained to them who this little bundle of joy was.
I opened the door to two happy, tail-wagging dogs. Adelaide barked as if to say “What took you so long?” We made our way into the family room and there was much sniffing of my clothes. I was thrilled my husband had brought home our newborn’s blanket several days earlier so they’d already had the chance to familiarize themselves with the scent. I held their collars and spoke in calm reassuring tones about who their dad was about to carry into the room.
My husband came in and sat next to us holding our sleeping newborn. Adelaide and Percy sniffed and peered into the blanket, ala Lady and the Tramp. I petted their heads and explained to them who this little bundle of joy was. Studies show that border collies can understand more words than most dogs. More than that, though, my dogs seemed to sense the emotion behind my sentences. I wanted them to understand this was a happy moment and we were all calm and confident. After a minute or two, both dogs were satisfied and went about their daily routine.
As the days went on, the dogs adjusted to the baby crying and dealt with the different energy level in the house better than I’d imagined.
We were done.
As the days went on, the dogs adjusted to the baby crying and dealt with the different energy level in the house better than I’d imagined. It was a great first step bringing us all together in those initial moments, and I’m glad I’d formulated a plan suited to the personality of our pack.
Each time my son reaches a new milestone, so will our dogs. Over the years, I’ve been privileged to witness some of this firsthand. Adelaide and Percy kept me company during my son’s sleepless newborn phase, and as he grew they learned to look after him with me. Adelaide listened to countless story times, kept watch as we played, and waited to tuck him into bed every night. Percy took over the more playful duties by running around outside and taking part in games of tag. I’ll continue to honor Adelaide and Percy by teaching my son to respect their boundaries just like I’ll teach my dogs to respect his.
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