The Arrival of a baby at home is a very happy event and also a great source of turmoil and change in the home. The arrival of a baby in the home, perhaps even more so if it is the first baby in the home, is a challenge for new parents but also for your pets.
Your dog will also see his family routine completely changed, he will receive less attention and this will affect him even more if until now your dog was like an “only child” at home. Your dog too will have to deal with the baby's new smells and sounds. If you are expecting a happy event, it may be good to think in advance about also preparing your dog for the arrival of your baby so that everything goes as smoothly as possible and that the transition is easier for everyone, because handling your dog well in this situation is very important.
If you are expecting the arrival of a baby in your home, keep reading: in this article on our site we are going to give you practical tips to prepare your dog for the arrival of the baby.
Teach your dog new commands
Having good verbal control based on positive reinforcement can be very helpful when your baby has arrived at home, the following commands can be particularly useful:
- Sit and Lie, Come here: these are basic commands that your dog should know to be obedient and have a base to teach him other orders.
- Stay: This can be especially useful in helping your dog control his urges.
- Let it go: for your dog to drop and leave your baby's objects
- Greeting people calmly: A dog jumping up and down to welcome you home may seem funny but once you have a baby can become problematic and very dangerous, also during pregnancy the future mother does not want her dog to hit her in the belly.
- Relax in his bed: If your dog has a bed or room where he knows he's safe, he'll be able to take refuge there when there's a lot of stress at home and it is also important for you to know that if you cannot watch your dog you send him to his bed and he can be there calm and relaxed.
Prepare your dog for changes in your lifestyle
Many dogs experience anxiety when their lifestyle is drastically altered. You can anticipate the changes that your baby's arrival will bring and minimize your dog's stress by gradually accustoming him to these changes before the baby arrives:
Plan and practice changes to your routine
You can think about how your daily schedules will change when your baby arrives, start a slow transition to these new schedules now: if you plan in take a nap in the afternoon when your baby sleeps, start taking naps from time to time. If you plan to walk your dog at a different time of day, gradually switch to the new routine weeks or even months before your baby arrives.
Life with a baby at home can be unpredictable and it might be a good idea to get your dog used to a change of pace: try varying the schedulesof your dog's food, feeding him an hour or two before or after his usual time at random to accommodate changes in routine Also if you usually walk your dog always at the same time you can vary the schedules a little. Of course, try to maintain some stability in all these changes. A lack of control of the situation can confuse and scare your dog.
You can even practice getting up in the middle of the night like you will when you have your baby and she cries. Teaching your dog not to be scared and to stay calm in the place where you are going to take care of the newborn is a good idea.
Modify the care you give your dog before your baby arrives
When you have to take care of your baby, the time you can spend with your dog will decrease. To fix this problem follow three important tips:
- Start getting your dog used to being home alone, receiving less attention, or getting used to another member of the family. If you don't start these little details early before their arrival, your dog will associate the decreased attention with the baby. Your dog could be jealous and this could be a major source of trouble.
- Progressively give your dog less attention and schedule shorter play and cuddle sessions at changing times of the day so that the arrival of your baby does not mark a drastic change in the amount of time you spend with your dog but that he has already got used to your absence. Remember that adaptation will be complicated.
- Encourage other members of your family to spend time with him and even consider hiring a dog walker to help your pet relax and have fun.
Make your new house rules now
If you let your dog do things you don't plan to allow anymore when your baby is home, make those changes now: by For example, if you sleep with your dog at night but you don't want it to stay that way when the baby comes, start getting your dog used to these changes now. Try to think of all the changes that will happen when you have your baby at home and apply them now so that your dog does not associate your baby with the unpleasant experience and stress of the changes.
Prepare your dog for new experiences
To dogs who haven't spent much time with them, babies may seem like strange creatures and can even scare them: indeed babies make squeaky sounds, they have different smells, they look very different from adult humans and move in other ways. Because of this it is a good idea to introduce your dog to as many baby sounds and smells as possible and to get them used to the sight and movements of babies so that your dog has become familiarto the fullest with these new sensations when the baby arrives home.
View new objects
You can now start to put in the house the material for the baby such as his toys, car seats, swings by presenting them to your dog one at a time to get used to these new items. You can also place smaller objects on the floor when you are at home so that your dog gets used to the presence of toys on the floor and learns not to pick them up: he can investigate them but if he picks one up immediately you must redirect their attention to their own dog toys.
Smells
Start using some of the baby's creams, gels, shampoos on yourself so that your dog associates these smells with something familiar and familiar. If you can: Introduce your dog to other babies' clothes, blankets, or knits infused with baby scents so that your dog becomes familiar with these new scents as well.
Noises
If your dog is sensitive to strange noises, he may become agitated or startled when he hears the baby screaming or crying. To help your dog adjust, you can get recordings of babies crying or yelling or making noises when playing and each time you play the recordings give your dog lots of attention and rewards so that they positively associate these new noises. If your dog is scared start with the very low volume and you can gradually increase the volume of the recordings.
Practice with a doll
Some dog behaviorists recommend practicing on a doll that looks like a baby weeks or months before your baby's arrival: You can simulate the classic baby care activities in front of your dog, you can teach your dog to gently kiss the doll. If your dog tries to bite the doll, say "no" firmly and redirect her attention to her toy and reward him when he focuses on her toy.
Obviously your dog will quickly realize that the doll is an object and not a living being but his first reactions will allow you to see what aspects you will have to emphasize when you present your real baby to your dog.
Walk your dog in parks where children and babies play
You can walk your dog in children's areas, always very carefully and ask for parental permission for your dog to approach, it is mainly so that your dog gets used to seeing children move and run.
Now you know everything to prepare your dog for the arrival of your baby so that this tremendous change in home life goes as well as possible, if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to consult a behavior specialist canine.
