BRINGING home a human baby to a house that already has a canine baby in it can be difficult. If you are like most canine guardians, your dog has been a substitute baby until this point in time. So what can you expect when you bring home your new baby and what can you do to help smooth the transition for everyone involved?
Hopefully you are reading this with a large stomach, so that you still have time to prepare your dog for the grand arrival. Up until this point in time, chances are your dog has been very spoiled, never having to share your attention. Things are going to change and change in a big way. And your dog may not appreciate you bringing home this little hairless creature that steals away all of your time.
There are ways to help smooth the transition for your dog from being the number one object of spoiling, to being the dog.
- If you will not want your dog on the couch when the baby arrives, start now. Buy a nice new comfy bed for your dog and start bed training.
- If the baby will be taking the dog's place in your bed, time to move your pooch to his-her own bed now.
- Start taking away some of your affections when you are around your dog. Do not respond to attention-seeking behaviors.
- Buy some little baby toys and leave them around the house. Get your dog used to not touching them.
- Try to create an outing schedule that will work even when the baby arrives.
- Try to get your dog out around little people and babies so that they can see how these little creatures move, sound and smell.
- If you haven't already, time to get some obedience training done. A solid stay will be very helpful when the baby arrives.
- If you will need boundaries for your dog after the baby arrives, start now. Baby gates can be scary if you have never seen them before. Get them up now.
- Get some toys that play music or make funny sounds that will likely be around when baby arrives.
Once the baby arrives
Try to keep to your pre-baby schedule. It is usually a huge shift in schedule that upsets a dog. When the baby is around, give your dog attention.
Use obedience when you have the baby up, to deliver some treats. You want your dog to know that when the baby is around, good things happen.
Try to keep attention for your dog to a minimum when the baby is napping. You do not want to only give attention when the baby is not around. This creates a sense that the baby being around is a drag.
Try to have visitors greet the dog when they come over so he-she is not totally forgotten.
Make sure one of the adults has time to walk the dogs and bring them on outings. This will make them feel special.
Try to keep up with exercise, you do not want to live with an abundance of energy when you have a new baby around.
Let the dog see the baby in your arms - allowing smelling is good. You do not want the baby to be a mystery.
And last but not least, try to make the blow of being only the dog a smooth transition. Consider the whole change in life from your dog's point of view - its going to be rough. Patience and understanding will help everyone live happily ever after. - Sherri's Canine Training & Photography
