Preparing a dog for a new baby
Bringing a new baby into the family is exciting and overwhelming. How will life go from now on? What will my schedule be? How will I be as a parent? All these questions and so many more come up as the birth of a new baby approaches. One question a dog owner should ask is “how will I prepare my dog for the new baby?”
In preparing a dog for a new baby, it is important to consider your dog when you are making plans for your new baby. Your dog may have, up until this point, been your child. Many pet owners see dogs as furry children and treat them as such giving lots of attention and affection. The dog may be expecting, or even demanding, attention from his/her owners and getting it as desired. Not only will your life change dramatically when your baby arrives but so will your dog’s. It is essential that you begin now and prepare your dog for a new baby and the arrival of his new pack member.
How to adjust our dog’s routine to fit with the new baby
Get your dog used to the funny baby noises
Let your dog get used to the new baby equipment
Two great obedience behaviors your dog needs to know
Get your dog used to the smell of the new baby
Communication through your dog’s body language
Rewarding positive behavior around the new baby
Never leave your baby unattended around your dog
Create a safe zone for your dog away from the baby
How to adjust your dog’s routine for the new baby
If you are planning on making any changes in your dog’s routine, now is the time to start. One big place to start is making rules as to whether or not your dog will be allowed on the furniture. If, up to this point, your dog has been allowed on the couches and/or beds without permission from you to get up there, you will need to change this. You do not want your baby to be lying on the bed and your dog jumping up on the bed and accidentally landing on the baby. Start teaching your dog now that he will not be allowed on the furniture unless invited by you. Also, he will no longer be allowed on the furniture without you being on the furniture yourself first. If you teach him now, then by the time the baby arrives, he will no longer be jumping up uninvited and potentially harming the baby.
Get your dog used to the funny baby noises
Also, you may want to consider purchasing a CD that plays sounds of babies laughing, crying and cooing so that your dog can get used to the funny noises your baby will be making. Play the CD and while it is playing, do something positive with your dog. Maybe train a new trick, sit on the floor and pet your dog or feed them dinner while it’s playing. This will help the dog make the association that when he hears the baby making noise, good things happen and it becomes a positive experience, not a negative one. Now, obviously, once the baby arrives, you will not always be able to give your dog undivided attention when the baby cries but the foundation you built before the baby arrived will help your dog make a positive association with those noises.
Let your dog get used to the new baby equipment
There will also be a lot of new equipment and furniture arriving in the house for your baby. Allow your dog to investigate and smell these things. You may want to turn on the swing or bouncy seat and allow your dog to get used to the sounds these objects will make. You will not, of course, want to let your dog climb on or in any of the baby furniture as this will lead your dog to believe that it’s OK and it will continue after the baby arrives.
Two great obedience behaviors your dog needs to know
Two important behaviors to teach your dog now, before the baby comes, are “down stay” and “leave it”. A good down stay command will be great for when you need to change a diaper, or just need some space to move or interact with the baby. A leave it behavior will be important to keep your dog from stealing and eating things that belong to the baby such as a pacifier or toys. Train both of these now to where your dog will respond on verbal cue alone without you having to give a hand signal or use your body to make the dog obey. You will need your hands for the baby and your dog will need to perform the behavior without your physical assistance.
Get your dog used to the smell of the new baby
Once the baby is born, have your partner or family member bring home a blanket or article of clothing that the baby has worn so that the dog can smell it and become familiar with the scent. You may consider placing it near their bed or wherever they usually sleep at night and do so before the baby arrives home.
When you bring the baby home for the first time, allow your dog to sniff the baby but not too aggressively. Don’t make a big deal out of the initial greeting, just allow the dog to sniff, praise the dog for being good then, continue into the home. If you don’t allow your dog to sniff the baby when you walk in, you will only pique your dog’s interest more and cause your dog to be excited during the first interaction.
Communication through your dog’s body language
Pay attention to your dog’s body language during his first interaction with the baby. Good body language would include: tail wagging low and slow, possibly squinty eyes and a relaxed body. If you notice stiff body posture or a high, stiff tail, your dog may be communicating that he is uncomfortable. If you observe this particular body language, simply end the interaction and allow your dog to leave or move them to a kid free zone. Do not discipline your dog for giving that kind of body language as they are simply communicating they are uncomfortable and warning that they may have to escalate their warning (i.e.: a growl or snap). If you discipline his communication, you will only create more stress and may teach the dog to not warn you next time and just to move right to a more aggressive warning.
Rewarding positive behavior around the new baby
Try to praise your dog for being appropriate whenever you are engaged wit the baby. Verbally praising your dog for lying down while you are feeding or changing a diaper will help your dog associate the baby with positive experiences. Make some one on one time for your dog when the baby is sleeping. Give some affection and even train a behavior or two to continue the bond you and your dog share. Even take your dog for a walk around the block with the baby in a carrier or stroller. The more positive things happen when the baby is around, the quicker your dog will see him/her as a great new addition to the family.
Never leave your baby unattended around your dog
It is important, however, that you never leave the baby unattended with your dog, no matter how well behaved or trained you think your dog is. It can become very frustrating for a dog to listen to a crying, unattended baby and he may react instinctively rather than rationally. If you must leave your child on the floor or on a piece of furniture while you do something briefly, make sure your dog doesn’t have access to the baby. Put him in a separate room or in his crate until you can keep an eye on both the baby and the dog.
Create a safe zone for your dog away from the baby
It will be very important once your child becomes mobile that you set up an area for your dog where he can go to get away from the child. You should not allow your child to crawl all over the dog or let them get away with poking eyes, pulling ears or tails, or sitting on the dog. Your dog looks to you for protection and as their communicator and mediator. Allowing your child to invade your dog’s personal space will only tell your dog that you will not watch out for him so he must watch out for himself. When a dog is left to do this, he will communicate in the only way he knows how, through body language and, if necessary, through a growl or bite.
So to answer the question “How to Prepare a dog for a new baby?”… If you prepare your dog ahead of time and introduce him using these suggestions, you will be setting your dog and your family up for success. It may not happen overnight, but, if you make an effort to make the baby a positive thing in your dog’s life, your dog may soon find he has a new best friend!
