8 Simple Steps on how to bring a newborn home to a family
pet.
by Beth Siess, BulldogSmarts.com
Up until now your bulldog has been the center of your
attention, within a few months this will all change and
to avoid confusion and anxiety with your pet it is best
to prepare them several months in advance.
I have put together a few things that I think will help
make the adjustment of your new family life go smoothly
with you and pet.
- Don’t wait till your baby is home, start several
months in advance with special training sessions to
get your dog acquainted with the idea of sharing time
with you.
If you have friends with babies or younger children,
have them visit and watch how your dog reacts. Don’t
force any interaction; just let them approach at their
own pace. Learning to read your dog’s body language
will help in structuring their behavior.
If your dog is aggressive or anxious, consult with a
trainer or veterinarian. And remember never to leave
dogs and children unsupervised.
- Take your dog to obedience training classes. This
is even important if your dog had already completed
classes at an earlier time. What you will find is this
reinforces the bond you have with your dog. And we all
forget things from time to time, you and your dog will
probably pick up some tips and tricks you missed the
first time.
- Establish new boundaries within your home. Your dog
may have once been allowed in a certain area and now
this area has been remodeled as a nursery.
You will need to teach your dog that certain areas are
off limits several months before.
**Also make sure your dog has a safe haven for them
that is off limits to children. If you haven’t
crate trained your dog this is a good time to do so.
Just be sure to establish this place as a positive one
and never use it for punishment.
- Visit your veterinarian to make sure your dog is in
good health and has all his updated vaccinations. You
might even want to have your dog groomed with a new
haircut and his nails trimmed.
Don’t go overboard though, and spend all your
time with your dog this will confuse him about sharing
time with you when the baby arrives. Keep things as
normal as possible with special attention to new activities
that will involve your baby.
- Practice with your dog ahead of time with a doll
and new baby things.
* Carry a baby doll wrapped up in a blanket around the
house.
* Take the doll in your stroller for outings with your
dog.
* Record baby sounds and play them back for your dog
to hear.
* Use baby lotion and soaps to get your dog used to
new baby smells.
- Make arrangements for your dog during your hospital
stay. Choose an environment that your dog is comfortable
with. If he is staying with a friend overnight then
have him stay a few times before the baby arrives. And
if a pet sitter is coming to take care of him in your
house, invite them for several visits to get acquainted
with your dog before the baby arrives.
- While you are away at the hospital have someone bring
an article of baby clothing with the babies scent on
it to your dog. Have them praise and reward the dog
for sniffing the article.
- When you arrive back home have someone else carry
the baby in. This way you can greet your dog and reward
for good behavior. Then slowly introduce your baby to
your pet, letting him sniff at the feet is enough at
the first meeting. Then gradually introduce the baby
in new areas of the home.
The most important thing to consider is your attitude
and reactions. This will be a high stress time for you
and to be prepared with your pet in advance will help
you from reacting in ways that can associate the baby
with anything negative to your dog. The biggest mistake
often made with new families and their pets is not recognizing
the dog’s attention seeking behaviors and curbing
them early on.
Look for area help in working through this adjustment
for you and your pet. Many times there are local organizations
within either pet owner groups or specialized behavior
training facilities.
Some of the free hotlines offer help through email or
phone consultation answering questions on issues like,
housetraining, excessive barking, inappropriate chewing,
puppy nipping and separation anxiety.
Many shelters are helping in ways to keep pets and their
humans happily together, especially since many pets are
surrendered due to behavior issues.
Here are some animal shelters that offer behavior counseling
by phone across the nation and or offer behavior tips
on their Web Sites.
Dumb Friends League – Denver Colorado
call toll free (877) 738- 0217 or visit www.ddfl.org
The Humane Society of Rochester and Monroe County
at Lollypop Farm – Fairport NY (585) 295
2999 or visit
www.lollypop.org
The Humane Society of the United States
www.petsforlife.org
Sacramento SPCA – Sacramento Ca
(727) 586-3591 extension 133 or visit
www.spcafl.org
Check out the article
directory for more BulldogSmart Articles in the future.
****************************************
This article cannot be used without full right given
to
Bulldog Smarts Editor, Beth Siess ©
BulldogSmarts.com
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