Preparing your dog for a new baby can seem very daunting. Your entire household is about to change, and you are preparing to adjust from your dog being your “baby” in the home to a real baby joining the mix.
Preparing your dog for a new baby in advance is the key to ensuring the new adjustment within the home goes well.
Make Changes As Early As Possible.
The key to avoiding jealousy or sudden behavioural issues from your dog when your new baby arrives is to make all the changes that you possibly can well in advance. If you wait until the baby arrives to start moving furniture, or to stop your dog from being allowed on the couch or bed, they will see these changes as happening only because the baby is here, and this can lead to serious issues.
If you are going to be moving furniture around, bringing new items into the home, changing the place your dog sleeps, or limiting access to certain areas, introduce these changes as soon as you can. This will give your dog time to adjust to the new routine well before the baby arrives.
Allow Them To Explore.
Preparing your dog for a new baby includes involving them as much as possible. As new items come into the home for your baby, allow your dog to explore them. Let them sniff and inspect the new items.
If you will be allowing your dog in the spaces where your baby will be, teach them how you want them to behave around the baby’s items. For example, teach them that jumping on the cot or bassinet is not allowed, and remember to always reward them positively for their good behaviour.
When the baby is born, but before you arrive home, allow your dog time to sniff a piece of clothing or a blanket that has the baby’s smell on it. Keep this introduction calm and reward your dog for their good behaviour at this time to create a positive initial interaction before the physical meeting.
Preparing Your Dog For A New Baby – adjusting your attention & routine.
As much as we don’t want it to be the case, when a new baby joins our family, the time and attention we once had for other things, including our dogs, becomes less…. especially in the first few weeks of a new-born’s life. You may not be able to go out on as many walks as you used to, and you may be sleeping more frequently (when you can).
Start to gradually wind back some time with your dog now so they are comfortable with being alone or not right next to you like they used to be. You can introduce new toys and enrichment activities (like puzzle feeders) to help keep their mind busy and occupied for when your hands are full.
Take The Time To Train.
Use the time leading up to your baby’s arrival to ensure your dog has their basic training skills down pat. Make sure your dog understands basic commands such as ‘sit’, ‘stay’, ‘leave it’, and ‘go to your place’. This will help at times when you may have your hands full or if you need to give a command from a distance away. Remember to always display calm and confident leadership skills to ensure your dog trusts and respects your commands.
When the baby does arrive, be sure to set clear boundaries with your dog. If there is a space in the home that is their space (like a crate or dog bed), make sure it is available to them at all times. Also, be clear about spaces or areas they are not allowed in.
If you will be using a pram for your baby, set it up and start using it on your walks prior to the baby’s arrival. Preparing your dog for a new baby involves more than just their home environment; to ensure you are able to safely still walk your dog with the baby in the pram, you need to make sure your dog is comfortable walking alongside the pram before the baby is in there.
Always Supervise.
As much as we may trust our dogs, a new baby in their space with their family is a very new and potentially confusing situation for any dog. Your dog should never be left unattended with a baby.
This is never to suggest that your dog is dangerous, but they may react or behave in a way that is unintentionally harmful to a baby or small child. For example:
- If your dog is a lap dog and is used to sitting on other people within the home, they may try to sit on a baby in the same way.
- A baby can also be very grabby with their hands and may accidentally grab or pinch your dog, who may react instinctively in a way that can harm a baby.
To avoid any negative situations, you should never leave your baby and dog unsupervised at any time.
Teach Children Correct Habits
As your baby grows, and also as other children may come into your home, it’s important to always practice safe behaviours and handling of dogs. Be sure that children are aware of how to approach any dog respectfully and to never grab or pull at any part of their body.
Training both humans and dogs alike ensures a much safer and happier environment for everyone.
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