Introducing the family dog to a newborn baby takes time and careful planning. Up to now your dog has had your sole attention. It is only natural that he may feel some jealousy with the arrival of your newborn baby. This is why it is important to prepare your dog for your newborn's arrival.
If you have trained your dog well, in other areas, it will be much easier to introduce him to your baby. He will already see you as the leader in the family and be willing to take cues from you as to how he should behave. If you feel you have been lax on training your dog it would be a good idea to start a training program before your baby arrives.
Part of your training program should be acclimatizing your dog to the changes that will be taking place within your home. One way you can do this is by inviting friends to visit who have babies and young children. In this way you can help your dog become accustomed to the attention given to a baby and young children.
Take time before your baby arrives to acquaint your dog to the new smells of a baby. This is important since smells are a major factor in how your dog investigates his world. There will be many new smells with the arrival of your baby, her furniture and other baby items. Take time to introduce your dog to the baby's room. Allow your dog to explore the smells of the new furniture, clothes, baby powder and lotion. As your dog becomes accustomed with these smells it helps him accept your new baby because she will smell familiar. In this way you help your dog understand that your baby will be part of the family.
A word of caution, when you introduce your dog to your baby's room don't let him become too familiar with it. Make sure your dog is not allowed to jump up on the furniture. Obviously it will be dangerous if your dog jumps on the furniture when your baby is there. Prevent a bad habit from forming by keeping your dog off of the baby's furniture from the beginning.
Besides new smells a new baby also introduces new sounds. The cries of a baby can be rather alarming. Often a dog will become anxious when he hears the cries of a baby. Purchasing a recording of baby sounds and playing it occasionally will be very helpful. New sounds will also be introduced by your baby's toys and equipment. Plan the time to acclimatize your dog to these sounds as well.
After your baby's arrival there will be times that your dog should be kept at a distance. One such time is when the baby is napping. You should have an expandable baby gate to keep your dog out of the baby's room when she is asleep and you're not with her. Your dog should be able to see through the gate. Your baby's cries will cause unnecessary anxiety in your dog, especially if he cannot view the area.
Be sure you enthusiastically praise your dog when he comes to warn you about your baby crying. This act of praise will help facilitate a watchful and protective nature in your dog.
Your dog and baby should never be left alone unsupervised. This is especially true if you are unsure of your dog's reaction to the new household changes. A loving dog, by trying to cuddle close to your baby, may accidentally hurt her. A baby cannot move her face or body away from your dog if he is too close and a young child does not have the physical strength to move a dog.
Carefully watch your dog's reactions when your baby is brought home. Introducing your dog to your baby is a slow and deliberate process. Watch your dog carefully for negative or aggressive behavior. If negative behavior occurs place your dog in another room to calm down. Reintroduce your dog to your child after he has calmed down. If aggression reoccurs place your dog back in the other room. Repeat this as often as needed until the situation is calm and relaxed.
It is a good idea to have someone available to hold your baby when you come home from the hospital. This will give you an opportunity to greet your dog. Your dog was the center of your attention before your baby's arrival so set a few minutes aside each day devoted to your dog. This will help him adjust to the new situation much faster.
Your new household environment will definitely be hectic. Work at establishing set routines. Household routines make it easier for your dog to adjust to the new environment. All of these ideas will help establish a happy and harmonious family.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4068607
If you have trained your dog well, in other areas, it will be much easier to introduce him to your baby. He will already see you as the leader in the family and be willing to take cues from you as to how he should behave. If you feel you have been lax on training your dog it would be a good idea to start a training program before your baby arrives.
Part of your training program should be acclimatizing your dog to the changes that will be taking place within your home. One way you can do this is by inviting friends to visit who have babies and young children. In this way you can help your dog become accustomed to the attention given to a baby and young children.
Take time before your baby arrives to acquaint your dog to the new smells of a baby. This is important since smells are a major factor in how your dog investigates his world. There will be many new smells with the arrival of your baby, her furniture and other baby items. Take time to introduce your dog to the baby's room. Allow your dog to explore the smells of the new furniture, clothes, baby powder and lotion. As your dog becomes accustomed with these smells it helps him accept your new baby because she will smell familiar. In this way you help your dog understand that your baby will be part of the family.
A word of caution, when you introduce your dog to your baby's room don't let him become too familiar with it. Make sure your dog is not allowed to jump up on the furniture. Obviously it will be dangerous if your dog jumps on the furniture when your baby is there. Prevent a bad habit from forming by keeping your dog off of the baby's furniture from the beginning.
Besides new smells a new baby also introduces new sounds. The cries of a baby can be rather alarming. Often a dog will become anxious when he hears the cries of a baby. Purchasing a recording of baby sounds and playing it occasionally will be very helpful. New sounds will also be introduced by your baby's toys and equipment. Plan the time to acclimatize your dog to these sounds as well.
After your baby's arrival there will be times that your dog should be kept at a distance. One such time is when the baby is napping. You should have an expandable baby gate to keep your dog out of the baby's room when she is asleep and you're not with her. Your dog should be able to see through the gate. Your baby's cries will cause unnecessary anxiety in your dog, especially if he cannot view the area.
Be sure you enthusiastically praise your dog when he comes to warn you about your baby crying. This act of praise will help facilitate a watchful and protective nature in your dog.
Your dog and baby should never be left alone unsupervised. This is especially true if you are unsure of your dog's reaction to the new household changes. A loving dog, by trying to cuddle close to your baby, may accidentally hurt her. A baby cannot move her face or body away from your dog if he is too close and a young child does not have the physical strength to move a dog.
Carefully watch your dog's reactions when your baby is brought home. Introducing your dog to your baby is a slow and deliberate process. Watch your dog carefully for negative or aggressive behavior. If negative behavior occurs place your dog in another room to calm down. Reintroduce your dog to your child after he has calmed down. If aggression reoccurs place your dog back in the other room. Repeat this as often as needed until the situation is calm and relaxed.
It is a good idea to have someone available to hold your baby when you come home from the hospital. This will give you an opportunity to greet your dog. Your dog was the center of your attention before your baby's arrival so set a few minutes aside each day devoted to your dog. This will help him adjust to the new situation much faster.
Your new household environment will definitely be hectic. Work at establishing set routines. Household routines make it easier for your dog to adjust to the new environment. All of these ideas will help establish a happy and harmonious family.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4068607