Expectant Parents: Preparing Your Dog for a Growing Family

Many expectant parents are concerned about how bringing home a new baby will affect their other baby at home—the dog. The new routine and changed priorities that come with adding a baby to the family will certainly take some adjustment, but even more so when you add a spoiled family dog to the mix. The introduction can be a particular challenge when the dog is accustomed to being the center of attention. But you can take steps to make the big introduction go smoothly by gradually preparing your dog during the weeks and months leading up to the baby’s arrival.

As you meet the demands of caring for a new baby, your dog will likely begin to receive less attention than he is used to. He will also have to adjust to a plethora of curious new scents and sounds that will soon fill your household. Beginning in the weeks before the new baby is due to arrive, you may begin making gradual changes to prepare your dog for the changes to come. One way to prepare for the adjustment is to reduce the amount of time you play with the dog. While you should still fulfill your dog’s need for exercise according to his activity level, gradually reducing the amount of one-on-one time he receives will make the adjustment easier when the new baby begins consuming most of your time. The idea is to accustom your dog to a new routine so that he does not associate receiving less attention with the arrival of the baby.

Another way you can encourage a smooth transition is to introduce the dog to the scents that will become common in your household once the baby arrives. For example, use the baby’s lotion on your hands. Turn on the baby’s musical mobile occasionally. Introducing your dog to small anticipated changes can help alleviate the shock of too many changes at once.

If you have the option, introducing your dog to other babies, preferably in your home, can help with the introduction of your new baby. Some expectant parents start out by coddling a baby doll to instill in the dog the behavior that is expected when they are tending to the “baby.” You want to allow the dog to smell the baby, but obviously teach him not to jump, nip or otherwise react adversely to the baby. The point of this exercise is to give your dog a positive association with the baby, so it is important to speak to your dog in a calm, approving tone when he is demonstrating acceptable behavior while you are holding the baby. You do not want your dog to associate the presence of the baby with being scolded or ignored. And of course, always supervise when the dog is around a baby.

If your dog has had behavioral problems in the past, and especially if he has shown aggression, you should strongly consider obedience training before the baby arrives home. Training classes will not only help your dog understand the behavior you expect, but they also help dog owners understand what they are doing wrong in communicating with their dogs. Some training facilities offer courses specifically for the new baby situation.

Another piece of advice is to begin ahead of time enforcing the rules that will be in place once the new baby arrives home. For example, many new parents make the baby’s nursery off-limits to the dog. This rule should be enforced before the new baby arrives home.

Finally, be patient! The adjustment to a new family routine may take some time. Before long, the benefits of your efforts will shine through as your dog and child grow to become the best of friends.