I have been working with dogs for more than 10 years. I know the drill when a pet parent has a baby. I have told hundreds of people how to handle this exact situation. Take home a blanket with the babies smell on it so your dogs can smell it. Introduce the baby slowly in a controlled environment. Praise your pet for any positive interactions they have no matter how small. I was ready for this moment.
My sister picked my dogs up from the sitter to bring them home about 2 hours before we would arrive. She put a blanket from Grace into their crate and then spent some time with just them before we got home.
When we got home, we let each dog come up and sniff the car seat. We each spent some time saying hello to the dogs, then I sat down in Grace's room to let each one come up to her. They all behaved perfectly and sniffed her, but they were all more excited that we were home.
Over the next few weeks I waited to see them fall in love with their new sister. I kept my phone on camera mode waiting for that perfect picture. There was going to be that moment where one of them curled up next to her protectively, or rested their head on her feet, I just knew it.
That moment never happened. I have one picture of Grace laying against Washburne's side. It's posed and if you look closely, you can see that he isn't quite sure of the situation. He's behaving well, but he's looking to me for confirmation of his behavior.
I realized that those pictures you see on facebook are not the norm and that's ok. I have good dogs. No, I have great dogs. I have dogs that are really well behaved and will do anything to please their parents. Every day they get a little more comfortable with having a little sister, but given the choice, they would rather snuggle up with John or I than curl up next to the baby.
I am sure that as Grace grows, my dogs will grow to love her. I'm guessing it will start right around the time that they realize that she is able to drop food from her high chair.
