How to Introduce a Dog to a Baby
For many of us, dogs are our children until a real child appears. Like any older brother or sister, they need to be introduced to their human brother or sister under the best possible circumstances.
You have nine months to introduce your dog to the idea of change, whether he is nervous or just sensitive to changes in his daily routine. Prepare the dog this time before adding a new tiny creature to the pack.
Look inside
Cesar Milan, a cynologist, advises dogs to reflect our emotions, so test yourself: are you showing your own worries, fears, excitement? This is pretty natural and doesn’t have to be kept for the sake of a pet, but it’s worth considering if you can’t figure out why your dog is already getting too much praise.
It’s also important to think seriously about your relationship with your dog. Are you in control of them? If you are unsure of your ability to guide or calm your dog under stressful circumstances, it may be time to consult with a professional about this. You both may need some training.
Training Box
Crate training gives your dog where to go when he is stressed, and where you can send him when he needs a break. Most dogs learn to enjoy the time in a crate because it becomes a secluded little refuge, but this needs work. Just throwing them in a cage won’t relieve stress! Victoria Stilwel says :
Make sure the dog is drawing attention to itself. You don’t want to isolate your dog, but it’s important to have a safe place.
Use the crate, not as an excuse to neglect the dog, but as a place where the dog can feel safe.
Plan changes
It may seem like it’s impossible to predict what will change in your life when your baby is born, and to some extent this is true. Topics not less, according to the ASPCA, there will be some changes , you can schedule and start now to acquaint with his dog. For example, if certain pieces of furniture or entire rooms are banned, teach your puppy before the baby arrives. If you have a very rigid walking routine, consider changing it a few months before giving birth, as your schedule is likely to become unpredictable. If you don’t have dog walking but know you will need one, try to find someone early so they have time to get to know your dog.
You can even plan how to show affection:
Resist the temptation to give your dog extra attention a few weeks before giving birth. This will only set her up to be more frustrated when the baby appears and takes center stage. Instead, start planning short games and petting with your dog and gradually give it less and less attention at other times of the day. Schedule activities at random so that your dog does not expect attention at specific times.
If this sounds awfully timid, remember that it can prevent your dog from associating a lack of affection with a newborn. You don’t want such resentment in the house.
Imagine the sounds
You can play videos or sounds of babies crying for a dog before the real thing ruins their peace. While these awful sounds are playing, feed them here and there and pay attention to them. According to the ASPCA, repeating this procedure several times a day for five to ten minutes will cause the dog to associate crying with positive emotions. If the sounds are too strong or seem intimidating, start recording at a low volume – your dog’s ears are much more sensitive than ours.
Introduce odors
There will be many new purchases for the child, including lotions, baby wipes, etc. Open them up for your dog to sniff well. They perceive most of the world through their incredible noses. When the baby is born, the baby will likely spend a little time in the hospital, so bring home the blanket they used to get the dog sniffed, or wrap the blanket around one of the dog’s favorite toys so the dog can get used to it. Again, be kind and reassuring to your dog when this introductory encounter occurs and give him a treat.
Get the doll
This is strange to me, but some people seem to buy baby-sized dolls and introduce them to the dog, making it clear that this is not another toy. The dog will obviously know that it is not a real child, but you can use some of the gestures you could with a real child to get the dog used to these movements and actions. This means that you need to teach Fido not to jump on you when you take the “child”, and slowly approach when you are sitting with him.
Watch that baby
The baby will gradually grow into a child capable of annoying the dog unbearably. Milan’s tip: remember to supervise their interactions until the child can be trained as reliably as the animal:
When your child is in an exploratory state, it is important to monitor all interactions between him and the dog. This is a great opportunity to teach your child not to disturb the dog, tug its tail, etc. These lessons of mutual respect cannot be started early enough. Too many children have inadvertently provoked an otherwise peaceful dog simply because they were not being watched or by their parents not giving them proper instructions.
Hey, we can’t expect the dog to make all the concessions.