What To Expect from Your Dog After Baby

What To Expect from Your Dog After Baby

What To Expect from Your Dog After Baby

Having a baby is a life changing experience and these changes will not only affect expectant parents, but they will also affect anyone else in the house, including any pets and this makes it important that preparations are made well before the new baby arrives on the scene. There are a few simple things you can do to prepare your dog to accept the new baby when he or she arrives.

The first thing you should do is make sure your dog understands basic commands such as sit, stay, heel and down. Your dog should already know these commands but if he doesn't, now is the time to teach him. If you don't have the time to give your dog basic obedience training you can enlist the help of a professional trainer but it is vital that your dog is manageable so you can maintain peace in the household when the baby arrives. Dogs may try to greet the baby in the only way they know how by jumping up and licking them and they could unintentionally harm the baby, so training your dog to listen to basic commands is very important.

Setting the stage for baby's arrival is also helpful. You can do this by pretending you have a baby in the house. Introduce your dog to your baby's toys and blankets and teach him that these things are off limits. This will take time as your dog may be initially confused but with patience and persistence your dog will soon learn not to touch the baby's items.

One of the biggest changes your dog will have to get adjusted to is that his roaming space may be limited. Many parents dedicate the family room for their baby to play in and may not allow the dog in the area. Some people are uncomfortable letting their dog on the couch when there's a baby in the house and if your dog had access to the couch before you will have to teach him not to use it anymore. Ideally you should start doing this before you bring home the baby, the earlier you start preparing your dog for these big changes, the better.

Perhaps the most important thing you should keep in mind is that once the baby is home your dog may feel neglected and even though you're going to be extremely busy and probably tired taking care of a new baby, you must devote time for your pet. Play a game of fetch in the den while your baby is taking a nap, or take the dog with you for a walk when you're taking your baby to the part in his stroller. Your dog may have been the center of attention in your household before the arrival of the baby and he won't understand why you're no longer spending as much time with him as before. The majority of dogs can be very gentle and tolerant of babies if given the proper training and it is ultimately your responsibility as a dog owner to supervise your dog and ensure he can coexist with your new baby.

Your dog relies on your for everything and you shouldn't begin neglecting him if you have a baby. Owning a dog is a lifetime commitment and with careful preparation and training, you should be able to achieve a harmonious coexistence between your new baby and your furry baby!

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