Having kids and a dog can be hectic enough, but what if you found out you were pregnant? Throwing a puppy into the mix of a household with kids is one thing, but bringing a baby home to the family dog is quite another! This month we interviewed our go-to dog-baby expert to get you the top tips on how to make this new experience a fantastic one for the WHOLE family.
Jennifer Shryock is not only the owner of Family Paws™ LLC, she is also the U.S. VP of Doggone Safe (a non-profit dedicated to bite prevention) and she has written and spoken extensively about this topic. Jen told us that when the dog-baby prep isn’t done, the stress of having a newborn and an unruly dog can sadly be just too much for some families.
So to skirt that disaster area, all you have to do is a bit of practice before that cute little bubba arrives!
1. Practice Separation
Since your dog can NEVER be left alone with your baby, there will be times he simply has to be by himself. For him to do this happily Shryok says ‘success stations’ are key. Whether you can’t actively supervise or your dog or he simply needs a break, you have to set up a place where he can enjoy chilling out alone. This could be a crate, gated area or something similar. Make this a part of his daily routine before your baby makes an appearance and your dog will have no problem relaxing comfortably while you’re doing something else, somewhere else.
2. Curb Bad Habits
Now’s the time to really think about your dog’s habits and just what they’ll look like when you have a baby. Does he paw and whine for your attention, jump on you when excited or pull hard on walks? None of those are going to make anyone happy when you’ve got a baby in your arms. But don’t wait until the baby gets here to start making changes. According to Shryok "the dog doesn’t understand that the rules have changed. He’s just doing what has worked before. The good news is you can prevent that frustration by preparing ahead!" So get cracking and teach your dog to walk nicely on leash, sit for petting, and entertain himself with a treat-filled toy that you can give him during naptimes.
3. Back to Basics
We all know that exercise can help your dog calm down in the house (and prevent a lot of mischief too!). But did you know that mental exercise can be super helpful as well? Shryok recommends having your dog practice some basic skills that you can ask him to do even while you’re lying on the couch! What to practice? Think about what your dog can be doing while you take care of baby (Shryok’s example: a down stay while you "change" a diaper). Practice with a doll or timer now so your dog will be ready when baby comes because "including your dog in daily routines is a great way to build the important familiarity bond between baby and dog."
In a nutshell ... if you’re expecting - start changing your dog’s expectations about life too! The more well behaved your dog is around the baby, the happier you’ll all be as a family. As Shryok says, take the time now to "practice before the baby arrives and you’ll make life much more fun and so much easier for all!"
Leah Hatley and Justine Schuurmans are professional trainers and owners of thefamilydog.com, a website that specializes in educating the whole family on how to interact with their dog or puppy. To learn more about the online program and see free training videos visit www.thefamilydog.com.
