How To Introduce Your Dog To Your Baby
Here are some tips to help make baby's arrival a smoother transition for your canine friend from Jennifer Shryock, www.Familypaws.com, Creator of the Dogs & StorksT, and U.S. Coordinator for Doggone Safe. Reprinted with permission.
- Review and firm up obedience.
- Parents should practice giving commands comfortably in any position. Examples: sitting back on a couch, lying in bed, sitting on the floor.
- Be consistent with commands.
- Socialize your dog around children in a positive and controlled environment.
- Observe and become aware of how their dog seeks their attention.
- Know your dog's sensitivities. Research the breed or mixes. Does he startle with fast motion, noises etc.
- Begin a baby schedule that includes:
- Varied feeding times.
- Crating or "dog zone" times
- Vary exercise routines
- Ignore attention seeking behavior
- Allow your dog to become familiar with the baby equipment.
- Teach your dog the behaviors you want around the equipment vs. what you do not want. Doing this ahead makes a world of difference!
- Parents can use the baby carrier they plan to use with their baby and put a teddy bear in it to get the feeling of what it will be like moving with this. Work with your dog while you wear this.
- Walk your dog with an empty stroller or one with some weight to it to get a feel for this and what needs to be worked on NOW.
- Use a CD of baby noises to introduce and create a positive experience prior to the baby's arrival.
- Get your dog used to the smells of the baby soap, shampoo, lotions, and diaper cremes you plan to use.
Put it on the baby carrier, car seat and the teddy you carry in the sling. Bring the same lotion with you to put the same familiar scent on the baby's clothing for the dog to be familiar with.
- If Dad returns from hospital first, have him bring home a blanket with the baby's scent on it.
Although Dad will have the scent all over him. The blanket can go in the car seat, swing etc.*
- Schedule your vet visit well ahead of time to be sure to have all meds available.
- Familiarize your dog with the person that may care for him while you are giving birth.*
- Plan a good and safe spot for your diapers!
- Attend a Dogs & Storks workshop early on in your pregnancy!
Get a Dogs & Storks phone consultation online or recommend Doggone Safe to your local hospital for possible program options in your area
Suggest a Dogs & Storks program be started in your area!
- Have fun and enjoy your family!
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Dogs & Babies Further Reading
*Note
*Note from Bonnie (Web Baby Shower owner), if you plan to have a home birth or other out-of-hospital birth, make sure you have a safe, familiar place for your dog to stay while you are in labor and birthing, preferably at your home. It is also important for everyone on your birth team to have met your pet ahead of time and be comfortable with him. In case your labor is long, you should have a designated "doggy sitter" to come by and feed and walk your dog, and that person's name and number should be on your list of emergency numbers for your birth team. Our dog-sitter fell through at the last minute so our dog was in his crate for most of my at-home birth (which fortunately was only about 9 hours). We followed many of the above guidelines in preparing him for our baby's arrival and he was very happy to come out of his crate and meet his new baby sister.
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