By Gabi Falanga
Dogs are intuitive and will definitely know that something’s going on when you’re pregnant, but they might not know what. You’ll want to start preparing your beloved pets well before the birth so that you can be confident that they will handle the adjustment well and that your new baby will be safe when Rover’s around. We gathered some tips on how to do this.
Training and obedience: Even if you think your dog is extremely well trained, there’s no harm in doing some refining. Go for extra obedience classes while you’re pregnant to make sure your dog listens to commands, and won’t, for instance, jump on you when you arrive home with the new baby. Use treats to teach it commands like “lie down” or “go away” so that you can use these once the baby has arrived without your dog feeling like it’s started getting into trouble because of the baby. Also teach it that it’s not allowed inside the baby’s room without being invited.
New routines: Some parents-to-be mistakenly shower their pets with extra attention in the weeks leading up to baby’s birth. Experts suggest doing the complete opposite – gradually reducing the amount of attention your dog gets, until it closely mirrors the type of attention it may be receiving once baby’s home. That way your dog doesn’t associate the drop in attention with the new baby, which may result in jealousy. Similarly, once your baby is home, pay attention to your dog when the baby is awake, not asleep – otherwise the dog will associate an awake baby with being ignored – adding an extra reason for jealousy.
Getting used to baby: Your dog might be overwhelmed by all the new baby stuff you’ve acquired. Make sure that it has had enough time to check out new, ‘scary’ looking items like a pram or high seat before the baby arrives so that they don’t associate feelings of nervousness or fear with the baby. If you’re going to be in hospital for a few days after the birth, ask someone to bring a blanket or outfit that the baby’s worn home for your dog to sniff. Once the baby’s home, introduce the two slowly by allowing your dog to sniff the baby’s feet first before gradually allowing it to move upwards if you’re confident your dog will be gentle.
Arriving home: If possible, ask someone to take your dog for a walk or run, or play fetch with them in the garden just before you’re due to arrive home with your baby to get rid of their excess energy. Ask dad to walk in ahead of mom and baby to greet the dog. It’s always a good idea to keep your dog on a leash for the first meeting just in case you need to control it. It’s important to always supervise your baby and dog when they are together to prevent any unnecessary accidents from occurring.