The arrival of your new baby will be far easier on your dog when practicing these precautions beforehand.
Top 3 tips to prepare your canine for a new baby
February 21, 2012
New parents have more than enough on their plates when preparing their home for the arrival of a new bundle of joy, so if you're in the same situation, have you thought about how your pooch will react? According to the Washington Post, you will have to have to make a few advanced preparations to prepare your furry friend for the big change before the baby comes into your home. This will help ease the transition on your four-legged friend and improve the pet care standards in your home.
1. Create new boundaries. In the months leading up to the birth of your child, you will have to set a few boundaries for your pooch to follow. For instance, if the baby's nursery is going to be located in a spot where he frequents, consider moving his pet bed and his toys to a new part of the house. This will ensure that there aren't any drastic changes that can lead to unneeded stress when your baby comes home.
2. Invite friends with infants over. According to The Humane Society of the United States, a bit of direct exposure could be beneficial for your canine. While you should obviously supervise all of his interactions with the child, this will help your furry friend get used to the normal sounds of a new baby. While crying and cooing will be easy to get used to, running certain devices like an automatic baby swing or a rocking chair will help your companion get used to the new everyday routine.
3. Behavioral training. Even an old dog can learn new tricks, so if your canine has become a bit too comfortable in your home, it may be time to attend a training class. This will help your dog stay off of furniture and changing tables, and only join you on your couch or bed when you say so. If this starts to become a problem, consider using double-stick tape on your couch to further reinforce the new arrangement.
Bringing a new baby into your home is a joyous occasion, but without advanced preparations, it could have a negative effect on dog wellness. Thankfully, you can get your pooch used to the sights and sounds of his new friend before he or she comes home.
