5 ways to prepare your dog for a baby by Hayley Morcom at fitbitch.com.au
Like most young couples, while we’re expecting our first human child next year, we are already parents to beautiful fur children.
And if your house is anything like our house, those ‘children’ rule the roost. They are up on the bed, couch, and any place they please. Basically, they get all the attention.
To say bringing home a baby is a terrifying experience is an understatement – let alone worrying about how the dogs will react, too.
My partner keeps telling me to prepare for my best mate (the toy poodle) to be pushed back in the hierarchy once bub arrives. This saddens me a lot (probably more than usual, with all those extra hormones floating around at the moment).
As a dog trainer, I know that dogs, like babies, thrive on predictability – and that like it or not, a new baby will dramatically change both yours and your dog’s life.
While we can’t predict exactly how it will be for both bubs and the fur babies, there are steps we can take early on to best prepare for the pending arrival. If you too are pregnant and looking for dog/baby answers these steps may help you (and your sanity), setting everyone up for one big happy family.
Nothing confuses a dog more than a lack of consistency. And nothing will annoy them more than all of a sudden booting them off the bed one night because you have no patience, only to then let them back on the next. Start deciding, while you’re pregnant, exactly what you want your dog to do and not do when the baby arrives.
If your dog sleeps on your bed, will you still want them to? Will you want them on the couch or on a designated mat/bed? Will they remain an inside dog or do you want them to spend more time outside? Will you allow them inside the nursery? What about the car? If they are used to sitting in the back seat, will you then need them to get used to sitting in the boot?
It’s a good idea to sit down with your partner and decide together what the new rules will be so you’re both across it, and start implementing the new lifestyle at the same time.
Now you know exactly what the new expectations for your dog will be, set plenty of time to implement them before your due date. Your dog is pretty switched on, and they’re going to pretty quickly associate the new rules with the baby if they start the day the baby is brought home.
If you want your canine to now go to a mat or bed when it’s let inside, buy a new comfy one and start a “bed” command as soon as they are let inside. We started this a couple of months ago and our two dogs now run straight to them – they actually love their new beds. Start working through your rule list and give them enough time to settle into their new way of life. If you need some extra help, call in a dog trainer and let them know what your new expectations will be so you can work through them together.
Your dog won’t understand that your world has been dramatically changed by this baby, and will still expect their usual daily walks and the attention they had BC (before child). Plan ahead for dog walkers or family/friends to drop by and do their daily exercise to keep everyone happy.
It’s also a good idea to have a dog trainer’s contact details handy to give them a buzz if you find any behavioural issues arising early on.
While you are busy feeding, changing nappies and generally trying to keep the household in order, your dog will benefit from having its own entertainment that doesn’t require your attention.
Keep frozen bones and chicken necks in the freezer, a KONG toy filled with treats in the backyard, and plenty of chew toys outside so they can be easily let outside to ‘go play’. A cosy inviting dog bed outside for daytime naps is also a good idea.
When the baby arrives, that’s when the lack of sleep and thinning patience creeps in. Try to avoid taking it out on the dog for no reason – yelling at them to “get out of the way” simply because they are by your feet will only cause problems, as they will start to see your new family member as a negative. Remain as positive as possible and your dog will remain calm as well.
Happy preparing for both bubs and pooch!
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