I thought this was an interesting story.
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William Wynne with Habie, a Yorkshire terrier he rescued after its owners got rid of it because they were afraid it might snap at their toddler.
Habie, a Yorkshire terrier, had a human family until he was 6 years old. He was their baby.
Then the human baby came, and when the child began to toddle, the dog was sent away along with its blanket, toys and water bowl. "It was so sad," said William Wynne of Mansfield, who adopted the dog.
Habie, now 11, was lucky. Wynne, the author of "Yorkie Doodle Dandy," a story about the Yorkshire terrier who flew 12 bombing missions with him in World War II, is a charter member of Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue. This group finds new homes for 350 Yorkies a year for various reasons from the birth of a baby to the death of an elderly owner.
Pets thrive on familiarity. Adjustment to a new home is not easy for a middle-aged to old pet. To add to the complication, many people who are adopting a pet want a puppy or kitten - not a middle-aged one.
However, with some preparation and training, a pet doesn't have to leave home because a baby has arrived or is starting to move around.
"Most problems come when the baby starts to toddle," said Nancy Peterson, issues specialist for the Humane Society of the United States. The pet might be curious about or jealous of a baby. When the child starts to toddle, the pet might feel threatened.
"The pet doesn't know how to read the new little human's strange behavior - flailing arms and accidentally falling on the pet," said Peterson.
"Many adults get bitten or scratched because they can't read a pet's warning signs, so how can a child read them?"
Peterson answered her own question. "Supervise, supervise, supervise," she said. Never leave infants or toddlers and pets together unattended.
Teach toddlers that tail- or ear-pulling, poking eyes or feeding a pet is not acceptable behavior and that a gentle touch is needed for petting.
Teach pets that growling or snapping is not allowed by redirecting their attention so they can be praised when they do something right.
To eliminate a pet's jealousy, the humane society suggests playing recordings of a baby crying and sprinkling baby powder or oil on your skin, so the pet becomes accustomed to the new smells before the baby arrives. Have someone take a blanket with the baby's scent from the hospital and let the pet sniff it.
Some owners carry a baby doll in a blanket and put the doll in a stroller when they walk their dogs, said Peterson. They use the doll to get the pet used to routine baby activities, such as bathing, diaper changing and using a rocking chair.
However, the pet must learn it is not OK to jump on your lap, unless you say so. Reward the pet for lying quietly at your feet.
When you return from the hospital, have someone else hold the baby while you give your pet a warm, calm welcome. Then allow the pet to sit next to you while you hold the baby and reward the pet for good behavior. Any association with the baby should be a positive experience.
Do not let the pet feel isolated or neglected. While baby is sleeping or someone else is with the infant, spend quality one-on-one time each day with the pet.
The most valuable commands a dog can learn are "Come," "Down" and "Stay." Teaching these takes time and effort. The dog isn't going to learn on its own, but it loves to please if you make learning a fun game with lots of rewards.
If the baby's room is off-limits to pets, install a baby gate or, for jumpers, a screen door so the animal sees what is happening in the room but does not feel isolated.
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