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8 year old dog with 10 month old baby

18 16:57:06

Question
We adopted a very sweet 8 year old spayed female Dalmatian from the Humane Society yesterday.  She is so good with children that they used her in summer camp programs with children while she was there.  I have a 9 and 10 year old and she does well with them.  However, I also have a 10 month old baby.  The baby can crawl and pull up and walk and seems very interested in the dog.  Yesterday the dog pretty much ignored her but today when my daughter would crawl to her the dog would get up and walk away.  Once she grunted as she got up (not growled, grunted) but I'm not sure if that's because she's old (she grunts periodically anyway) or if it was because of the baby.  When I try to acquaint them by holding the baby while petting her she is ok but kind of looks at the baby like she's a little paranoid.  She hasn't growled or snapped and seems unagressive but I'm a little paranoid and need some reassurance.  I'd rather not get rid of the dog.  Do you think that these behaviors can lead to further problems as the baby becomes more mobile and climbs on her or is the dog still just adjusting?  Thanks!

Answer
Infants and dogs DO NOT MIX.  Regardless of how well socialized to (very young, under age 5) children a dog is, you cannot for one second trust any dog with any toddler, let alone an infant.  Your dog has been with you a VERY SHORT TIME.  It takes a dog (any dog, but especially an older dog) many weeks, perhaps several months, to habituate to a new environment and human pack members.  Do NOT push this dog's ability to adjust.  It's unbelievable to me that any legitimate rescue organization or humane society would place this dog in a home with an infant.  Because this dog is "good" with (older) children does not mean she is socialized to, understands, is acquainted with, can tolerate or will accept a very young human.  Babies need to be closely observed with any animal and it is never a good idea to introduce a large dog into any household with a child under age 8.  I don't know WHAT you mean by "the baby becomes more mobile and climbs on her..." but BY ITSELF this question suggests that you have no idea how to allow a young child to interact with a dog.  NO BABY should EVER "climb on" any dog.  Return the dog to the Humane Society ASAP so they can find her a more appropriate home.  Yours is not it.