Preparing for the birth of your baby is not going to be easy.
You will likely have to make changes to your home and to your routine. Plus, there may also be other things you have to do that you won’t be aware of until your baby has made it home.
If you have a pet dog at home, it will also help to take the time to prepare him/her for the arrival of a new family member. The good news is that you can start preparing your dog for the big change that’s about to happen months ahead of your due date.
By subjecting your pet to some important dog training, you can ensure that everyone inside your home will be ready to welcome your baby.
Teach Your Dog Some Essential Commands
Many of the commands you need your pet dog to understand once the baby is around are the basics. Chances are he/she has already learned the upcoming commands previously.
Commands such as stay, sit, and dropping things he/she has in her mouth are very important as they can help prevent your baby’s sleep from getting disturbed.
The ASPCA also recommends teaching your dog a gentle “go away” command. This command should come in handy once your baby starts to crawl all over the place. Instead of your dog panicking once he/she sees the baby approaching, you can simply instruct him/her to move away and prevent an unpleasant interaction.
Prepare Your Dog for the Baby’s Movements
Babies like to interact with just about everything that happens to be close by, and that could very well include your dog. Unless your dog has been properly trained, he/she may not react the right way to your baby’s playful touch.
Needless to say, your dog reacting adversely to your baby is not ideal.
To prevent that from happening, you should start playfully interacting with your dog in a gentle way. Integrate some gentle tugs and pokes into the way you interact with your dog so that he/she will be used to them and not be caught off guard by what the baby does.
What to Do Once Your Baby Is Home
Once the day comes for you to bring your baby home, the American Kennel Club recommends that you don’t greet your dog right away with baby in hand. Walk over to your dog by yourself first to ensure that he/she is able to get the excitement out.
It’s also not a bad idea to give your dog a few days before you first show him/her the baby. Once those few days have passed, you can show the baby to your dog. Just make sure that your pet is on a leash for that initial interaction.
Dogs will react strongly to anyone they don’t know and early on, your baby will be a stranger to your pet. By following the tips mentioned above though, you can make the process of introduction smoother for everyone involved.
It can be tough to find time to walk your dog when there’s a new baby at home. Resolve that issue by contacting us at TAILored Pet Services. Just call us at 425-923-7791 to learn more about how we can help out.
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