Baby is expected soon and parents are worried about the dog-child relationship. How to prepare the arrival of baby so that the relationship between the animal and the new little human is happening pleasantly and safely?
It will start working before baby arrives. Once the room is done, it will be necessary to decide if the dog is entitled to stay there. It would be unwise to let the dog go as he pleased without supervision, but it may be appropriate to give him access to the room in the presence of a parent. Familiarizing the dog with new developments will be the first step. The dog should be taught not to jump on the bed or other furniture in the nursery. Bring the dog and give him some treats in the room. This in order to associate this place with something positive. Place a baby gate to prevent the dog from entering the room without permission.
The dog will also have to learn to stay, lie down and sit in front of any adult on command and this well before the baby is present.
Get a doll that looks like a baby and do the gestures that you will have to do with baby, the dog observing you: rock, wash, change the layer of the doll, go with her in the room and place it in the bed . Go walk with the stroller, the dog walking on a leash. The dog must learn to control his impulsiveness in front of the doll and all the gestures that will soon compose his daily life.
The cries of a child are often a source of stress for a dog. The dog may want to intervene to stop his cries. It will therefore have to get used to it. Make him hear baby crying on the internet and associate them with mouth-watering delicacies or a game he likes (ball games, bones to eat, etc.). Start at low volume and then gradually increase it. You can find them at the following address: http://www.soundsnap.com/human/babies
Once the baby is born, bring him / her and make him feel a blanket in which the baby will have stayed, before the baby arrives at home. Teach him to sit down and lie down in front of this blanket with delicacies, in order to create once again, a positive association.
Here! He is finally here, this beautiful baby. Your pet will also want to see and smell it. Make the presentation calmly, sitting, because if you are standing, the dog will jump to feel it. Place the dog on a leash to ensure safety and work for two people. An adult has the baby in his arms and the other has the dog on a leash. This second person makes all good behavior (calm, sitting or lying in front of the baby) with delicacies. Do not push him back if he feels the baby and do not punish him, but talk to him gently. Encourage him to sit or lie down. Go back and forth in the house with the baby in your arms. The dog can follow calmly.It is necessary that the presence of the baby is more for the dog.
With the growth of the child, you will have to place your child on a blanket on the floor, couch or in a small seat. Continue training the dog by teaching him calmness and staying in front of the baby. The use of the cage can also be a good solution to keep your dog in control if you want to leave the room without the child. In no time, the dog will have to remain alone with the child placed at its height. Be careful even if you have the best dog in the world!
Each new stage connected to the growth of the child will have to be worked with the dog. When baby starts, teach your dog to stay calm as the child approaches him. Same thing when he starts running, etc.
A new baby means a change of routine for you but it should not be for the dog. That is to say, if you want to have a good time. The dog must not have lost on the road because of a child has entered the family. Your schedule can be changed. This may be your biggest challenge. If you can not do it for lack of time or because of fatique, hire a small neighbor to take over for a while.
Put yourself in the place of your dog who is traveling in his life, this new human being is unknown to him. Give him the chance to adapt to it in a positive learning context. Baby will then be a beneficial acquisition for him! And for the baby, it will be the prospect of having a great companion by his side.