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How to prepare your pet dog for the arrival of your new baby.
By Julie Murphy
Rated "G" by the Author.
Last
edited: Sunday, October 18, 2009
Posted: Sunday, October 18, 2009
A new baby inevitably brings changes to a household. It can be quite a demanding time, with around-the-clock care taking priority over most other things – including your pet dog’s routine.
Amidst all the excitement, your dog may suddenly find itself receiving less time and attention than usual. Its place in the ‘pack’ (i.e., your
family) changes – it has effectively been demoted. This can stress some dogs so much that behavioural problems surface. New parents are sometimes shocked to see their trusted pet develop naughty or even aggressive, attention-seeking behaviour that, at its worst, can become the equivalent of sibling rivalry.
The trick to keeping your baby safe and your dog happy is to gradually get your pet used to changes before the baby arrives. Prospective parents may consider adding some of the following items to their ‘baby preparations’ list:
- Train your dog to stay away from the ‘baby’ room, or block access to it if necessary. (Pets should never be left unsupervised near babies.)
- If you change your dog’s sleeping place, make the new area comfortable and clearly recognisable – use the same, familiar basket and blankets, etc. Spending quality time there together will help your dog to settle in.
- Gradually introduce the new ‘walking’ routine (start making walks shorter or less frequent).
- If you haven’t already done so, train your dog not to jump up on you uninvited. (You will soon be carrying around your baby.)
- If your dog is very closely bonded with the mum-to-be, encourage others in the family to spend more time with your pet.
- Set up new baby furniture early (e.g. prams, high chairs, cots, etc.) so that your dog can get used to them.
- Arranging your dog’s annual vet-check before the baby arrives leaves you with one less job to do after the big day.
Copyright Julie Murphy 2009
Please feel free to contact me via my website to ask about publication rights.
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