Welcoming a new baby into your house is a wonderful and exciting moment, but it may also be stressful for your pet. Changes can cause anxiety or confusion in dogs — which means they’ll need additional care and patience throughout the transition phase.
To ensure that everything goes as well as possible for everyone, spend some time preparing your dog for the arrival of your new member. After all, a dog is a man’s best friend, and with proper training, your dog can also be a loving and calming presence for your child.
4 Tips on How to Introduce Your Dog to a New Baby
Here are some tips for introducing your dog to a new baby. This will help smoothen the transition and guarantee a safe and happy household for everyone.
Prepare your dog
The first step involves preparing your dog for what’s to come. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, in the months leading up to the baby’s arrival, you should concentrate on two things:
- Give your dog the skills she’ll need to engage with her new family member securely.
- Assisting your dog in adjusting to the many new experiences and changes that lie ahead
Train your dog new commands or encourage positive habits such as staying calm and gentle around toys. You can also get the assistance of a professional dog trainer or behaviorist to ensure your dog is prepared for the adjustments.
Introduce the Baby Gradually
Your dog is probably confused about why his familiar home life is changing. With all of the extra stimuli, he may get himself into more trouble than normal.
In order to keep the dog calm, offer him plenty of exercises to let him release his energy. Luckily, there are plenty of exercises you can incorporate into his routine. For example, you can do a simple toilet paper workout, which is easy to do anywhere, anytime.
Once the baby comes, you should let the dog smell and examine the baby from a safe distance. Let your dog get closer and closer to the infant every day to learn suitable limits with your newborn.
Give Attention to Your Dog
It’s easy to get caught up with diaper changes, feedings, and precious minutes of rest after the baby has fallen asleep. Don’t let this prevent you from offering your dog affection.
Toys or extra attention are not required for a dog to feel important; merely maintain the routine by offering regular walks and continuous leadership. This will make your dog feel safer and allow it to relax about the new family member.
Teach Your Child
Teach your youngster to respect your dog’s body, safe zones, and possessions as they grow older. Everyone will benefit from your active participation in the establishment of a bond between your child and your dog.
Make sure your child learns to be kinder and more patient towards the family dog — and others in general. Too many children have unintentionally irritated an otherwise calm dog simply because they were unattended or their parents did not provide them with sufficient guidance.
Conclusion
Preparation, patience, and attention to your dog’s needs are necessary when introducing your dog to a new baby. You can help guarantee a secure and pleasant home for everyone by following these tips. Your dog and baby can create a deep and loving bond that will last a lifetime with time and care!
If you want to learn more about dog care, check out the PetFitness blog!
