Little one, meet the dog

Kathleen and Philip McDaniel let their yellow Lab mix, Jake, sniff their babies when they came home from the hospital. (Photo: Courtney Rose)

Buzz Baby is a column about life with babies from the perspective of a first-time mother. If you have baby stories to share, leave a comment under this article or email [email protected].

When Kathleen McDaniel and her husband, Philip, found out they were going to be first-time parents, they started to prepare. They bought the gear and prepped the room.

It was summer 2009 when their first baby arrived. A healthy baby boy, 18 pounds, 10 ounces, and 4 months old. His name was Jake.

He was a yellow Labrador-mix puppy.

The couple experienced a bumpy ride as new parents to their pooch, adopted from the Houston Humane Society. “[Jake] almost died of pneumonia after we adopted him, but the emergency-hospital doctors saved his life,” said Kathleen. Jake eventually became an integral member of the family.

The human babies arrived four years later.

The couple’s first son was Noah, born June 1, 2013. “Jake was our first ‘baby,’ but that quickly changed when we brought Noah home,” said Kathleen.

Taking advice from others, they helped Jake get to know the newest and smallest member of the family by letting him sniff one of Noah’s hospital receiving blankets.

“When we brought Noah home, Jake seemed very interested and wanted to smell him a lot,” said Kathleen. “We did the same thing when we had our second baby, Evelyn, this past summer.”

Kathleen said with Evelyn, they let Jake smell her head while they held her. “He always wants to give slobbery kisses to Noah and Evelyn,” said Kathleen.

“He has been very good with both of our children, but he is a dog, and we have to keep watch when they are eating food. Jake has taken a whole peanut butter sandwich right out of Noah’s hand, and other snack foods if they are within his reach.” 

Kathleen said she keeps in mind that Jake has instincts. “Jake is protective of his food, so we have to be vigilant about keeping his food bowl off the floor, and only feed him when the kids are sleeping.”

Now, Noah chases Jake and plays tug-of-war with him. “Evelyn loves to pet him and pull on his fur, which he is not a big fan of,” said Kathleen.

A lot of new parents worry about the dog and baby’s introduction. There’s always a fear of that scary news story where it didn’t go well. Trainer Cesar Millan says to prepare your dog.

“Find a recording [on YouTube] of a baby crying and put it on as loud as possible while you go about your daily routine,” Millan says on cesarsway.com. “It won’t be exactly the same as the real thing, but it can help get your dog accustomed to the sound and may help you identify and address any problem behaviors that it elicits.”

Beth and Brad Applewhite’s rescue collie, Murree (with their son Pierce, who is now 4), loves playing with their children.

Beth and Brad Applewhite, owners of the website Kid Fun Houston, adopted their first furry “baby,” Murree, in 2007 from the Houston Collie Rescue Center.

Four years later, the couple had their first human son, Pierce, when dog Murree was 5. Their daughter Berkeley came two years later.   

When the couple placed baby Pierce next to Murree, the dog sniffed and licked him. “He then started following him room to room,” said Beth. 

The couple said Murree still follows the kids everywhere. “My son went through a phase when he was 3 years old,” said Beth. “He was afraid at night. We allowed Murree in his bedroom, and it really helped Pierce feel safe. Murree has a dog bed in Pierce’s bedroom, and he sleeps and naps with Pierce every day. He has comforted Pierce in this way for almost two years now.”

Beth says their daughter, Berkeley, is an animal lover and sometimes she gives a little “too” much love. “We often have to remind her that she has to be gentle, maybe only give him one hug,” said Beth. “I have to watch her closely around animals.”

Beth said they established boundaries before they brought their babies home. They also continued to give their dog attention and maintain his usual routine. Also, she said, it helped giving Murree a retreat away from the kids, a protected, personal space.

Grant Griffin is seven months old and has three big “brothers,” Yorkshire Terriers Charlie, Jax and Max (from left). (Photo: Kim Hartz)

Lauren Leavitt-Griffin and her husband Dallas Griffin, both physicians, have enjoyed watching their 7-month-old baby boy, Grant, bond with their three Yorkshire Terriers, Charlie, Jax and Max.

Lauren worried about the introduction. “It was one of my biggest fears during pregnancy, because my dogs were my first babies and [Dallas and I] had gone through so much together – medical school, residency, dating, marriage, pregnancy.

“I should have known we’d do just fine with this too.”

For more on parenting and babies, check out writer Annie Blaylock McQueen’s new “Mommy Moments” blog every Monday.