Bringing home your new baby should be one of the most precious moments in your life, so don't let it be frayed by arriving home to an anxious and unhappy dog.
If your’re a dog-owner and worrying about how your pet is going to react to a new baby arriving into the house; “it is definitely worth being prepared in advance to help the dog over the transition period and accept the new baby as part of what the dog perceives as the pack”, says Lisa Graham, Press Officer for the UKRCB
There are many childless dog owners who treat their pets as a child, a way of life the dog has become accustomed to. A sudden disruption to this routine, such as bringing a baby home may be a potential source of conflict as dogs cannot understand why changes in their routines are occuring. A dog in this circumstance who has never heard a baby cry, smelled or seen a baby move may wonder what it is; in many cases a crying baby can remind dogs of small animals in distress.
Some tips to help your dog adjust:
- Before the baby arrives, carry a doll around the house so the time spent with the doll and away from the dog eventually become part of the dog’s routine.
- Play a tape of babies crying to get the dog used to the high pitched squeal of newborns
- Borrow a pushchair to get your dog used to walking next to one. Some dogs panic if they have to walk close to wheels.
- Bring home in advance the baby’s cap from the hospital to get the dog used to the baby’s smell.
- Be sure your dog gets quality time from you after the baby has arrived. Praising the dog lavishly and often when the dog is in the presence of the baby should help with jealously of the attention the baby is getting.
- NEVER, ever, leave a dog and baby alone unsupervised.
Click here for more useful tips from the UK Registry of Canine Behaviourists.
