The arrival of a baby in the family is a joyful moment, but it can also raise some concerns—and you may be wondering how your dog will adapt to this new family member.
Don’t worry! With the right preparation, you can ensure a harmonious coexistence between your dog and your baby. In this article, we’ll share practical tips to help your dog adjust to this big change.
Prenatal Preparation
- Walks: It’s important for your dog to learn to walk calmly by your side, even when you’re pushing a stroller. Use your daily walks to reinforce basic training, especially loose-leash walking.
If you're struggling to teach your dog to walk on a leash, don’t hesitate to call on a qualified professional who can help you feel more confident during walks when the baby arrives.
- Setting Up Space: Before your baby arrives, get your dog used to resting in a specific safe zone where they can retreat quietly. This could be a basket in the corner of a room or an area marked off with furniture.
Post-Birth Care for Baby
- Introducing Scents : It’s often recommended to bring home items from the maternity ward that carry the baby’s scent, such as blankets or clothing, and let the dog sniff and get used to them. While this practice is widely followed to familiarize the dog with the new baby-related smells, its effectiveness remains to be confirmed.
- Positive Interactions: Ensure your dog associates the baby’s presence with pleasant experiences. Play with your dog when the baby is around, reward good behavior, take your dog along on stroller walks to create a positive link between the stroller and outings, and avoid at all costs letting the dog connect the baby’s presence with punishment or threats.
- Supervision: It’s essential to supervise all interactions between your dog and your child. Never leave your child and dog alone without constant adult presence and supervision. Even if your dog is usually calm and friendly, it’s best not to take any risks. If your dog is naturally very excitable, it’s strongly advised not to let them play with the baby.
Even if you're less available, try to spend quality time with your dog. With proper planning and positive interactions, your dog and your baby can develop a wonderful and close relationship.
Discover these tips and many more tutorials on our YouTube channel.
