Preparing Your Pet for the New Baby
by Pattie Hughes
Our dogs can be our babies, especially
if this pregnancy will be your first human baby. Like
any other sibling, your dog will need time to adjust to
the new addition to your family. There are things you
can do to prepare your pet for the newborn's arrival.
Start preparing him about a month before your due date
to give him time to adjust.
If you have friends or family members
with babies, invite them over. This gives your dog a
chance to interact with other babies that won't be
staying. It also gives you a chance to see how your pet
will react to an infant. If you don't know anyone with a
baby, get a recording of a baby crying. Play the tape or
CD at varying levels of volume to get the dog acclimated
to the sound of a baby's cries.
Go out and buy a life size baby doll.
Dress the doll in the diapers your baby will wear. Wrap
the doll in a receiving blanket. Hold the baby and rock
it. Wear the baby doll in the sling or infant carrier
you plan to use. Carry it around the house with you. Put
the doll in the baby swing and turn it on. This will
give your dog a chance to get used to the motion of the
swing and seeing you carry a baby.
Spend some time teaching your dog not
to jump up on the baby. Reward and praise your pet when
he doesn't jump up. Give the dog the chance to smell and
look at the baby without jumping or pawing the baby.
This helps him learn the behaviors you want to see when
the baby arrives. When he displays the appropriate
behavior, reward him with a treat.
If the dog will be banished from your
bedroom when the baby arrives, it's best to do this a
few months before your due date. You don't want the dog
to relate his reduced status to the new baby. This can
cause resentment and behavior problems later. Start your
pet's new sleeping arrangements in your seventh month.
By the time the baby comes, he will be accustomed to the
change and the baby won't be blamed.
When you pet your dog, spend some time
touching him the way a baby will eventually touch him.
Very gently tug at his tail and ears. Put your finger in
his mouth. These are all things a baby will do. It's
better if your dog has felt this before, so he won't get
nervous and react badly. When he stays calm and relaxed
during these sessions, reward him with praise and
treats.
When you get home from the hospital,
greet your pet. Hand the baby to your husband or another
family member. Spend some time hugging and petting your
dog. Spend some time with him, just as you would with
another child.
If your dog becomes closer to your
husband or other family member after the birth of your
baby, try not to get upset. My husband and I tried for a
baby for six years before our daughter was born. During
this time, our Black Lab was our baby. She was closest
to me. After the baby arrived, she was upset with me and
felt replaced, although we did our best to prepare her.
Eventually, she got over it, but from that point on, my
husband was her favorite.
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