PREPARE YOUR DOG FOR A BABY

Your dog and the baby are about to meet, whether you like it or not. The question is, do you want them to meet on your terms, or do you want them to get acquainted in a way you can’t control? If your dog has exhibited any type of protective behavior around you prior to your pregnancy, you know that she feels a sense of duty to protect you. Having been put into that role, she may interpret your growing belly as a sign of some new threat. Here are a few tips for preparing your dog for the new arrival.

Getting Ready for Baby’s Arrival

Allow your dog time to adjust to the changes he’ll confront if your kid isn’t due for a few months. In this circumstance, more training never helps, so start by brushing up on his skills. This both stimulates your dog’s mind and gives him something to do. Teach him to sit, remain, lie down, drop it, and leave it if he hasn’t already. They’ll come in handy if you’re looking after your child and an emergency occurs. If your dog has already mastered these activities, add some trick training or advanced moves. He will be more confident if he understands what is expected of him.

Do you and your dog go for walks on a regular basis? If that’s the case, change the routine right now to help him learn to be more flexible.

While you’re putting the baby’s room together, let your dog explore the new furniture and accompany you on a walk around the neighborhood.

Introduce your dog to some baby stuff

The best way to get your pet ready for the arrival of your kid is to expose them to all of the baby stuff. When you’re arranging your baby’s nursery, for example, welcome your pet in to sniff and inhale all of the fresh scents. Allow your pet to sniff some linen or a piece of clothes that your new baby wore in the hospital. You may even take the dog on a walk in the stroller with the baby to give them a taste of what’s to come. It will provide you much-needed practice maneuvering between the two, as well as aiding the dog in acclimating to this new addition on their important walks.

Introducing your dog to the new baby

You should use proper verbal and physical language, as well as a calm temperament, while introducing a dog to a new newborn. Keep your nerves under control and take long soothing breaths just before your dog sees your child since dogs are quite skilled at picking up on your emotional state. When your dog recognizes that you are in authority, he or she will be able to reflect that behavior to you, making the work of introducing your dog to the new newborn much easier.

If you are a video person here are the best tips and tricks to prepare your dog for a new baby.

Conclusion

Just be sure that you’re ready to put in the extra effort and patience that your dog will require for the next few months, allowing them to adjust to having a baby in the house. If you start training your dog as soon as possible and consistently reinforce good behavior, you should be able to make this adjustment as smooth as possible.