Prep Your Dog for A New Baby

How to Prepare Your Dog for a New Addition to the Family

You can LISTEN to this article!   

You find out that you are going to have a baby.  Everyone is very excited and can’t wait to welcome the new addition into the home. However, for your dog, having a new member of the family can be confusing and upsetting.

So it is best to prepare your dog for the new arrival well in advance, to ensure a safe smooth transition for all concerned. If this is your first child, your dog is about to be overthrown as the ‘baby’ of the family. He will not be getting as much attention as he is used to and there will be strange smells in his familiar territory. All these facts need to be remembered when you are preparing your dog for the new arrival.

Prepare your dog well in advance by following these steps:

1.  Ensure his vaccinations are up to date and he is free from parasites. Now is a good time to spay or neuter your pet if you haven’t already done so.  A sterilized dog will be calmer.

2.  Make sure your dog is socialized and obeys your commands. If he doesn’t, you should think about attending obedience training. You will want your dog to sit calmly by your side when you bring the baby home – make sure he can do this before the big day arrives.

3.  Trim your dog’s nails regularly.

4.  Introduce your dog to friends’ babies if possible.  Encourage visitors to the home so your dog gets used to this kind of activity.

5.  Get your dog used to baby smells by sprinkling baby powder on your skin. When the baby is born, get someone to bring home a baby blanket and let the dog smell it before you bring the baby home.

6.  Set up any baby furniture.  Let your dog smell it and get used to it being a part of the home.

7.  Reduce the amount of time you spend with your dog.  Do this gradually. By the time the baby arrives, your dog will be used to less attention and not crave your presence as much.

On the day you come home with the baby, let someone else carry the infant inside while you greet your dog. He will be excited to see you and want to investigate your new smell.

Gradually, over the next few days, introduce him to the baby.  Let him come close and smell the baby once he has shown calm, non-aggressive behavior toward the infant.  Most dogs will welcome a new member with ease, but those that show predatory behavior will need extra restraint around the baby.

Always be patient of your dog’s interaction with your new baby. You want him to regard this new addition to his family as a positive event.

Very soon he will accept the baby as part of his family 'pack'.