Photo by joeltelling

Having a baby is one of the most exciting things that happen in people’s lives. However, it is also one of the greatest changes in people’s lives. As you begin to prepare for having a baby in the house, you will need to give thought to preparing your dog as well. Here are a few tips in preparing your dog for when you bring home your new baby.

First, you will want to start with obedience training (if your dog has not already been trained) as soon as possible. Commands such as “sit,” “heel,” “stay,” and “down” are good to start with. Though your dog almost always means no harm, they may try to jump up and greet the baby because they do not know any better. If you work with your dog beforehand, you will be pleased with the confidence you will have in your dog when he is around the baby.

You will also want to do some role-playing or staging for your dog to simulate having a baby in your home. For example, you will need to teach your dog not to walk on the baby blanket lying on the floor or to not sniff the burping cloth or the baby’s toys. You will need to teach your dog to that the baby toys are not for him, and that he shouldn’t touch them. This may be confusing for your dog at first, but if you start teaching him early, by the time baby comes along your dog should be used to having toys around.

A huge adjustment for dogs when there is a baby in the house is that their roaming space may become limited. Many people set aside a specific space (such as the living room or sun room) solely for the baby to play in. Once baby is at home, your dog may have to adjust to differences in space. Another example would be the couch. Before baby, you may have allowed Fido to relax on the sofa, whereas now you may not want him to. The sooner you start making these tiny changes, the easier it will be for your dog to adjust.

Finally, take care to still make time for your dog. Though you will be much more busy with the baby, make it a point to play fetch in the living room while the baby is napping, or take your dog and baby to the park for a walk beside the stroller. This will help your dog feel included and not neglected. Most dogs like children and babies, and they can be surprisingly gentle as well as tolerant of children if you teach them to be.

Bringing a baby into the home results in many different changes. Of course it is a new challenge for you to adjust, but it also is for your dog. Before baby is born, go ahead and start training and teaching your dog about having a child in the home. You, your dog, and your baby will all benefit from the time you invest in preparing your dog for the new arrival.

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