Your dog was your first “baby” and is used to being the center of your world. So when you introduce a new human baby to the mix, it can be difficult to ensure that your dog doesn’t feel displaced by the new arrival. Here are some tips to help your dog adjust to the new family member and to make the transition smooth.
Before the baby is born…
Dogs are curious about babies, especially if they haven’t spent much time around them. Babies move, smell and sound so different from kids or adults that most dogs don’t recognize these bundles of joy are just little versions of us. Most dogs will adapt quickly, but if you have friends with babies, try to spend some time with them (with your dog properly restrained) so that your dog can begin to get some exposure to other babies.
Another good way to get your dog prepared for the new arrival is to play recordings of baby noises. While listening, you can give your dog treats and verbal praise to help your dog associate these new noises as positive.
If you need to chemically clean your dog and home for fleas or other parasites well before the baby comes home so that the house has plenty of time to air out. You don’t want freshly applied pesticides lingering in your house when you bring a newborn home.
It is also a good idea to try and make any necessary changes to your routines (ie. feeding & walking schedules) and house rules (ie. couch privileges and rooms they have access to) before the baby comes. This way you don’t force too many changes on your dog all at once and they won’t associate the baby as the cause for all this upheaval.
Shopping tip: when shopping for baby gear, get a diaper pail that locks. We may be repulsed by the smell that emanates from a diaper pale, but that sweet aroma can smell like a very tempting treat to a canine.
Once the baby has arrived…
A dog’s sense of smell is far more acute than ours. With this in mind, before you and baby come home you should have your partner or friend take home something with the baby’s scent (like a blanket the baby was wrapped in) for your dog to examine.
When you and baby are ready to come home, that initial meeting with the dog can be difficult. Make sure the dog has had plenty of exercise before you arrive to help to get some of his excess energy out. When you’re ready to go inside let your partner hold the baby while you greet the dog, who is sure to have missed you while you were in the hospital!
After the initial greeting, you can invite (but don’t force) your dog to sit calmly next to you and the baby. Always maintain a positive association with the baby, so reward your dog with praise and treats for behaving calmly.
As the new family settles into its new daily routines, don’t slack off on exercise! It’s not just about trying to loose your pregnancy weight – you want to make certain your dog gets his daily dose of exercise as that will help keep him happy and more relaxed.
Life will no doubt be hectic caring for your new baby, but maintaining regular routines and spending quality one-on-one time with your pet each day will help everyone adjust. If you make the appropriate changes and precautions, everyone in the family should be able to live together happily as one (now larger) family.
