Before Bringing Baby Home
So you’ll soon have a new addition! Congratulations! There is so much to plan for and prepare when the baby is coming home - the nursery, the clothes, the diapers, the doctor’s visits, the list goes on. Where is your pup on this list? (S)he is going to need a little extra care here. Dogs, while they are very adaptable, also need special care during times of change.
Dogs thrive on routine and when the baby comes home, the routine that they have been accustomed to will have changed completely. This can cause quite a bit of stress for them and affect things like their eating habits, sleeping habits, and most importantly their behaviour. For these reasons, you’ll need to do a little planning and preparation solely for your pup. We’ll get you started.
To begin, ask yourself a few questions:
- Has (s)he been exposed to many children in the past?
- How does your dog normally react well around children of all ages?
- Have the experiences been positive?
- Does (s)he have a regular routine?
- Does (s)he get plenty of exercise and mental stimulation?
- Does (s)he have Basic Obedience training?
- Is (s)he normally well-behaved and receptive to your commands and corrections?
If your answers are “no” then we’ve got some work to do before baby comes home.
- You may want to consider enrolling in a Basic Obedience course so that you are able to control your dog with verbal commands while you have your hands full. Keep in mind that it will be very difficult to control a jumping dog when you have a baby in your arms or quiet down a yappy dog when baby is sleeping. In these situations, you will need full control. Best to get started early!
- Get your pup used to seeing you walking around the house with something in your arms and having to keep a distance on verbal command. Many toy stores sell baby dolls that make crying sounds - this will be the most realistic and help desensitize your pup to the new sounds (s)he will be hearing for the next while. When purchasing a baby doll, it's best to find one that is made of fabric since many baby toys are made of the the same plastic as dog toys and you don't want the pup to associate the sound of a baby crying with a chew toy. You can also find baby sounds on CD in many online stores.
- Prepare the nursery for both baby and dog - you may want to have an extra doggie bed in the nursery so that when you are taking care of the baby, your pup can stay close and secure, without getting in the way. Bring your dog into the nursery and have him/her lay down in the new doggie bed. Give rewards and praise for being quiet and calm. Practice this often.
- If you have friends or neighbours with children, ask them if they would be willing to work with you to desensitize your pup. Have your pup meet these children in a safe and calm environment and practice having the pup sit and stay. Reward and praise calm and obedient behaviour. If you are feeling uncertain or the sense the dog becoming anxious, take your dog on a walk first and then try again. A tired dog is an obedient dog. Do not force anything - this can heighten the dog’s anxiety, which can result in fear and biting.
- If you are unsure of how your dog reacts to children, work with a professional in order to ensure the safety of the children as well as yourself and the dog.
When in doubt, contact us directly and book a Behavioural Assessment.