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  • Introducing Your Dog to a New Baby

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    I recently wrote an article about introducing your cat to a new baby. If you haven’t had a chance to read it, you can check it out right here.

    That being said, you may also have a dog in your life that you will have to introduce to your new baby. His or her life is going to change as completely as yours is.

    Here are some tips to introduce your dog to your new baby.

    Make sure routines are still a part of your dog’s life. 

    Routines are very important for dogs. Even if you don’t realize that you have a routine when it comes to your dog, you probably do. You probably feed him or her at a certain time. You may play with him or her at certain times and go for walks. Your dog knows what to expect.

    Since things are going to be changing, it may be time to change the routine that you and your dog are used to. You may change when you are going to be feeding the dog or taking him or her for walks. You may want to start going to bed earlier or getting up earlier, if your dog is going to need to adjust his or her schedule too!

    You may also want to think about giving your dog less attention in the few months prior to giving birth. 

    Though you may want to shower your dog with all of your attention since you know that your attention will be on the baby when you come home, the truth is that you should start getting him or her used to it now. If your dog associates the baby with getting less attention, you could have some trouble on your hands when you finally bring your new baby home.

    Get your dog used to all of the new stuff that will be coming home with the baby. 

    When you come home with a new baby, you are also going to be coming home with plenty of other things. Let your dog go into the nursery and see what is going on. Let him or her sniff the car seat, stroller, and even the high chair. You may even want to play with some of the loud toys so that your dog can get used to them.

    When you do have the baby, make sure that someone brings home his or her smell before you show up with the baby. You can bring home a blanket or something else that has your baby’s new scent in it. This can really help him or her get used to the smell before the baby comes home.

    This may be a good time to reevaluate the rules that you have in place for your dog.

    You may not want your dog to get in bed with you at night, especially if you are going to be breastfeeding and bringing the baby to bed with you. You may also want to rethink whether or not you want your dog to get onto the furniture. If you decide to change the rules, you should do it as soon as possible, so your dog has a few months to get used to the new rules.

    When you first bring the baby home, it is a good idea to make sure that this meeting goes as smoothly as possible. 

    You are going to want to make sure that your dog has plenty of exercise. One parent should come in and greet the dog, while the other one stays in the car with the baby. Then, you should switch places. The other parent should come in and greet the dog.

    It is a good idea to keep your dog on the leash when you have the first meeting. This allows you to have control of your dog, just in case. Allow your dog to sniff the baby from a distance. You may want to do this for several days before you allow your dog to get too close. Other dogs are fine, and you can let him or her sniff your baby’s feet. Just make sure that you take this step as slowly as needed to make sure that everyone is fine.

    Make sure that you make it a priority to spend time every day with your dog.

     It is really easy to get caught up with taking care of a newborn. However, you can’t let this get in the way of your relationship with your dog. Make sure that you still find time to take your dog for a walk and play with him or her. If you aren’t able to do that, you should just make sure that you spend time cuddling with the dog.

    Bringing home a baby into a home with a dog can be quite scary. However, if you prepare your dog for the change, it shouldn’t be a big deal. That means that you need to give your dog time to adjust by changing the routine before you bring the baby home. It also helps to give him or her time to adjust to the various things that will come home with you and the baby, like car seats, cribs, and other things. You should also bring home the smell of the baby once you have him or her. Then, take the first introduction slowly. It will be the start of a brand-new friendship.

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    It is important that you understand that the information provided is for educational and informational purposes only. Even though I am a veterinary professional, this blog is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. 

    If your pet is experiencing a medical problem or concern, please contact a veterinary health professional immediately. 

  • Tips to Prepare Your Dog For a Baby

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    Many couples buy a puppy as a way to prepare for parenthood. They get married, buy (or rent) a home, and start to settle down with a young puppy. He or she is their baby, until the moment that they decide that they want one of their own babies.

    No matter how much you don’t think that you will treat your dog any differently when you have your own baby, the truth is that there will be a big shift in the family. Your dog will know that something is changing. It can really be hard on a dog who has had all of your attention for his or her whole life.

    Because of this, you must take the time to prepare him before bringing your new baby home. You need to get your dog prepared for all the changes coming his or her way. If you want the transition to go as smoothly as possible, you need to find a way to prepare your dog.

    Photo Coutesy of Canva

    Here are a few tips to prepare your dog for a new baby.

    Start right away.

    You need to start preparing your dog as soon as possible. Involve him or her as much as you feel comfortable. Don’t keep your dog shut out of the nursery. Instead, allow him or her to sniff around and get comfortable with all the changes. Don’t be afraid to let him or her smell things and investigate as you put things away.

    Start some extra training now.

    No matter how well-behaved your dog is, you will need to continue training in the weeks and months to come. You won’t want your dog to jump on your lap while you’re holding the baby. For that reason, you will need to come up with a signal to let your dog know that he is allowed to get up beside you (or on your lap). You may also need to work on teaching him or her that sitting beside you is just as nice as being in your lap.

    You also need to work on how he or she behaves when you are walking. There is no way that you are going to want to trip over your dog when you are carrying the baby. Your dog needs to learn how to walk calmly beside you, rather than in front of you.

    If you want a little help with your dog’s training, check out Dogo’s tailored training programs. After taking a survey, you will receive a customized training plan for you and your dog. They also offer courses for your new dog, no biting, potty training, basic obedience, tricks, and more! 

    Get help.

    As you become more pregnant, you won’t be able to do as much with your dog. Long walks and playing ball might be too much for you. For this reason, you may want to get some help. You may want to consider hiring a pet sitter to come in and take your dog for regular walks. This can continue after the baby is born, so that your dog doesn’t feel neglected.

    At this time, you also need to think about what you are going to do with your dog when you are in the hospital. Can a relative take him or her for a few days? Can your pet sitter come in a few extra times a day so that your dog can stay at home, even when you are in the hospital?

    Photo Courtesy of Canva

    You should start preparing your dog for a baby as soon as you find out you are pregnant. It is going to be a change for the whole house, not just you and your spouse. Let your dog in the nursery as you prepare.

    You will also want to work on some training. Your dog will have to learn when it is all right to sit in your lap. You also don’t want to trip over your dog when the baby is in your arms. Don’t be afraid to get some help with him or her, even during your pregnancy. A dog walker may be able to give him or her extra attention during the pregnancy, while you are in the hospital, and when you are a new parent, preoccupied with your baby.

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    Please note, this article contains affiliate links, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

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    It is also important that you understand that the information provided is for educational and informational purposes only. Although I am a veterinary professional, this blog should not be used as a substitute for professional veterinary advice. 

    If your pet is experiencing a medical problem or concern, please contact a veterinary health professional immediately.