Minds of Animals

Watch these dog cartoons draw themselves:
http://www.drawthedog.com

Cartoonist Jim George really understands how dogs behave, and how people interact with them.

Hello, Dr. Horowitz

You article about the arrival of your baby is very interesting. I'd love to reproduce it on my blog, www.TheDailyTail.com and give you credit and link, of course. We publish stories from pet lovers, most of them written in the first person like yours. Could I reproduce it?

Look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you.

Daniela

In my experience dogs have a natural affinity for babies. This may be partially the result of higher levels of oxytocin being present in both mother and newborn. But I think it's also due to the fact that dogs are naturally responsive to our feelings. And while new parents may feel nervous about what dangers might be in store when they first bring a child home, the infant has no such feelings, therefore the dog will relate to him or her without nervousness or fear.

Also, I don't know how old your pup is, but even though I suspect you were kidding a little when you expressed concern that he might see the baby as a kind of motile chew toy, in my experience, once puppies reach a certain age, they have no trouble differentiating their chew toys from pillows and socks and such. And they never have trouble telling the difference between living and non-living things. Yes, puppies like to nip us and their littermates in play, but they're very careful around newborns.

Finally, I would caution people to be cautious about listening to the advice of behaviorists, as you recommend. In my experience behaviorists tend to rely too much on outdated concepts, and are often very far removed from the realities of canine behavior. Despite his brilliance and the thoroughness of his books on dogs, I would include Steven R. Lindsay in that category. Personally, I think that once you left his advice behind and started to go by your own instincts and gut-feelings, that's when you started down the right path.

Best of luck!

LCK

Thanks for your comment, LCK. I find the oxytocin theory compelling: certainly dogs' noses are keen enough to sense the hormone.
I've enjoyed watching the reaction of the neighborhood dogs to seeing/smelling the baby strapped to my belly as we walk: it is a new, different interest than that which I, or my dog, gets.

Yes, I don't actually think our dog imagines our son to be an elaborate squeaky toy -- but I was surprised at the resemblence of some of his cries to the rubber orange balls we have lying around the apartment!

We just brought our newborn home to two large dogs who are brothers, 4 years old. We actually had the same idea as you and after each of us came in alone to greet the dogs, we brought in the baby and let the dogs sniff the baby in his car seat on the floor. Every day we have tried letting the dogs sniff and see the baby but on day 6 one of the dogs who tends to be more aggresive and insecure actually tried to bite the baby's head. He made contact but nothing serious because I saw the whole thing in slow motion and pulled the baby away in time. The baby cried a little, from shock I think, and so did I. My guess is that he is jealous of the baby taking my attention, even tho I've been super attentive towards both dogs when I can be. The other dog seems fine with the baby, stays fairly calm and sniffs or licks gently when given the opportunity. We're considering a muzzle for the one, and keeping him on a leash when the baby is around. If that doesn't work then I think we'll try a behaviorist.

Having just finished horowitz's book, which has changed my view of dogs greatly even after living with a number of them, continuously for about 55 years I came here. Now I want to know what has happened with the baby, his family and finnegan in the last 8 months. Is this a teaser for another book? I would encourage everyone who likes or has a dog to read her book. BR