Introducting Your Pet

1. For introducing baby to dogs: Take photos of dogs with you to China, and talk to the baby about the dogs, using the dogs' names, so she will be somewhat familiar with them when she gets home. This will be particularly important for us, because some of our dogs are large, and just the size of them might scare her at first.

(Just note that they don't have to look like pandas or be dressed in Asian garb for your child to fall in love with them.)

2. For introducing dogs to baby: When baby comes home, before bringing her inside, have one parent take inside a blanket or outfit that has baby's scent on it, and HOLDING THE BLANKET WITH BOTH ARMS (like a baby), present it to dogs. The dogs will likely recognize it has a human scent. Then bring baby in, also held in parents' arms, and let dogs see baby from a distance first, and gradually introduce them.

3. Dogs know who their masters are, usually based on who feeds them. Once your child is about 2 years old, slowly introduce her as the "treat-giver" and then the "dinner-feeder" when she is able to feed the proper amount of food to the dogs. As a junior "treat-giver" baby will hold the treat in her hand, but mom or dad will put their hand over baby's to deliver the treat, because dog knows mom and dad's hands, and to protect baby from the first few interactions with the dogs and food.

4. Do not to ever leave a baby unattended in the same room as a dog, no matter how small the dog.