Dogs & Babies- How to Prepare Your Family Pet For the New Addition

Photo Credit:Wombat Wash

I have noticed a trait in Stockton Craigslist Ads. Many of the "Free Dog to Caring Home" ads use a baby as the primary reason why they can no-longer keep the dog. These ads say something like:

"Friendly, well-behaved dog. We hate to get rid of her, but we are expecting a baby and will no longer be able to keep her."

A baby should never be a reason to abandon your pet! Just like you create a birthing plan for your little human's arrival, you should also make a plan to prepare your pet for the changes your family is about to experience! You have nine months to prepare, and adding a little patience and extra training time can do wonders to ready your pet for a little-one, regardless of your fur-baby's personality. Try these helpful ideas for starters!

1. List it Out!
• Think seriously about what changes will be happening in the home. Will there be an increased noise level? Will the dog no longer be allowed in the study because it's becoming a nursery? Are doggie kisses still a good idea? If you aren't sure about what ground rules you want to establish for your pooch, try asking friends who have pets and kids. Find out what they think works and what doesn't. Then, make a list and stick to it!
2. Practice & Practice More!
   
• Invest in a $20 baby doll that cries and makes noise. Then, do all the things you would do with a real baby. Rock it, change it's diaper, and let it cry. Observe your pup's behavior. Sometimes behaviors such as barking, nipping, or other lash out behaviors develop when a baby is first brought home. Practicing with a doll can help determine if your dog has any of these behavioral concerns, and allows you to address them prior to being a new parent. 
3. Train, Train, Train!
• Consistently rehearse commands including sit, stay, quiet, and leave-it, as well as any other commands your puppy may have forgotten or has trouble with. Working on these behaviors not only strengthens your relationship with your dog, but it also prepares him to obey you for when the baby arrives. I especially suggest practicing "leave it" on new baby toys that will be lying around.
• In addition to training your dog, train yourself to always have an attentive eye. No matter how well-behaved your pooch is, animals can only take so much before asserting their dominance, so don't allow younger children to hit your animal, tug on it's lip, or any other behavior that can cause your animal to reactive negatively. This means supervising interactions between your dog and baby closely!
4. Good Doggies Don't Jump!
• A common greeting when your walk in the front door is probably a hug and kisses from your four-legged fur baby. When it's just you and your spouse it was probably a welcomed and encouraged behavior, but it is not a good one to have when you have a baby around. Think about how many times you will be standing with the baby in your arms. 
• A jumping dog creates opportunity for your baby to be scratched or injured, so stop it before it's a problem! You have nine months to re-train your dog to stay down, or only jump up on command! IE Problem Eliminated! 
5. Do you Smell That?
   
• Babies come with a variety of new smells! From diapers to baby powder, lotion and more there will be lots of new and interesting things that will interest your dog. Bring these things into the home long before the baby is due and allow your dog to get to know them. Have your pooch practice sniffing these things, but not moving or biting them. I suggest offering an incentive, such as treats. This way, you won't go to change your baby's diaper only to discover that the wipes have been chewed up and are on the floor. 

Following these 5 tips is just the start. Lots of preparation is needed for a successful introduction of a baby to the family pet. The following websites offer lots of useful tips that will help guide you on your way!

• Tutti Bambini 
• Introduce Your Dog to Your Baby
• Tips to Prepare a Dog for a Baby

Good luck and congratulations!