Preparing Your Pet for a New Baby in the House

It is so exciting (aside from the occasional squirts of fear) to have a new baby coming into the house. Discovering a life with a new addition to the family can be busy, change is be endured throughout each moment of a pregnancy or each moment of the adoption process. Baby clothes, cribs and so on are planned and purchased during the first few months. Some parents even make out lists of things to do before the baby comes, since there will be no time to do it once the baby arrives. Most parents forget about the furry baby that is already in the house though �â'¬" he/she needs to make changes also to prepare for this new addition to the family.

As a member of the family, just as you would with a human child, it is important to properly prepare your furry child for the new arrival. Do not worry though, with the proper preparations before the arrival of the new baby, just take the time to minimize any associated conflicts or problems that may occur after the arrival of the child.

If the canine has access to any room in the house, it is important to teach that it is not acceptable to enter the nursery. Even if the family canine is the friendliest creature on earth, it is always a good idea to steer the animal away from the nursery just in case the new born is allergic to the canine hair or dandruff. In addition, after the arrival the canine may feel as though it is being ignored causing it to go into the nursery when unwanted to get more attention. Try closing the door while the canine is in the house. Then, assemble baby furniture and et cetera in the room while the canine is outside the door. The canine will soon learn that activity can go on in that room however he/she does not always get to be involved in this action. Make sure that you always give a little more attention to the canine once you come out of the room though so he/she does not feel abandoned.

Socially train your canine before the baby comes into the house. Assuming that the canine has already been trained to obey common orders, it is also important to socially train the canine. Socially training the canine, especially for those households that were usually quiet ones, will allow the canine to get used to loud sounds such as baby crying. It can be very stressful on a canine if there are many sounds, especially during the night if he/she is not used to it. Try purchasing or downloading baby sounds and play them throughout the day. This will not only allow the dog to get used to all the sound but also you as an owner to get used to it. In addition, go to children parks and other events around the city where kids will be around. Children are a little hard to get used to therefore it does take a few outings to get used to the sound. In fact, our little puppy still has moments of hiding in the bedroom when a lot of children are around.

When purchasing those baby blankets that are placed on the list, make sure to purchase a few extra ones. Baby clothes and blankets have a specific smell that some dogs must get used to. After purchasing this baby blankets, take one or two of them and use them for the canine. We were able to sprinkle baby powder on the blanket and smear it in before placing in our canine's kennel. At first she did not want to get into the kennel however afterwards she entered with no problem. Then, every couple of days we would take the blanket out of the kennel, wash it and put it back in the kennel for fresh smells.

When the baby has finally arrived into this real world, place the blankets in the crib. This can be done at the hospital or after the child comes home. Then, place the baby scented blanket in the kennel so that the canine will get used to the smell of the baby. It is important to wash and then re-scent the blanket everyday for the first three days. No contact with the canine and child should occur for the first few days. This is a good suggestion since both the child and canine have to get used to each other sharing the household.

After the first three days in the house, try introducing the canine and the baby. For large dogs, it is a good idea to place a collar and lease on the canine during the first meeting. For smaller canines, hold on to him/her during the meeting. Allow the canine to smell the child without jumping. It is important to keep both the child and the canine calm during this time. Then, after a few moments of being together, separate the two. Then, allow the canine to be in the same room and give attention to the baby and the dog. It is easier to place the child in a small play crib and the dog in your lap or on the floor. Paying attention to the canine while the child is in the room will teach the canine he/she is less loved. Always give both the child and canine attention while in the same room to make sure both are not jealous of the other one. It is much like teaching an older child about a new little sister or brother.

After the first week, the child and canine should be used to each other however at no time should the two be left alone. Even the best canine can be shocked by a child screaming or another action that will cause an accident. With the proper care before the child comes into the house, the canine will feel just as loved and there will be no issues. Just remember to plan ahead of time and prepare the canine for the new arrival. Congratulations on the new baby and good luck!