When you are expecting a new baby to come into the house, there are a number of things you can do to ease the transition for your dog. Some things may be obvious, while others may not occur to you. The impending arrival can be so consuming that one forgets to prepare the canine member of the household. Be assured that he knows something big is in the works, and you should not forget to include prepping the pup in your arrangements!
- If your pet isn´t spayed or neutered, you may want to consider having this done. Spayed/neutered dogs are, statistically, less excitable, less likely to bite, and live longer, healthier lives.
- You may have a stream of visitors to greet you and the new arrival. You could put a jar of treats near the front door, and instruct visitors to greet and praise the dog briefly before moving on to the main attraction, your new baby. This will help your dog feel like he is still part of the household and may minimize doggie jealousy. Furthermore, arrivals can signal "tasty reward" instead of "oh, great... more people to visit the mysterious small thing."
- Give your dog some quiet time. A crying baby wakes up the whole household. Your dog may well need some R&R for his interrupted sleep. Overtired dogs are cranky and nippy, just like overtired people. Cut everyone some slack in this exhausting, exciting time.
- If your dog is used to being on your lap, you will need to retrain him to only get on your lap when called or not at all. You will soon need that lap for the new human youngster.
- You may have a stream of visitors to greet you and the new arrival. You could put a jar of treats near the front door, and instruct visitors to greet and praise the dog briefly before moving on to the main attraction, your new baby. This will help your dog feel like he is still part of the household and may minimize doggie jealousy. Furthermore, arrivals can signal "tasty reward" instead of "oh, great... more people to visit the mysterious small thing."
