The arrival of a new baby into your family can be an exciting but uncertain time; especially for your dog.
Welcoming a new baby to the home is a big thing, especially if you have a family dog. Introductions need to be slowly and carefully managed. While there’s lots to prepare, you have plenty of time to help your dog adjust to the new arrival before they come home. Let’s walk through all the things you can do.
Preparation is key! Remember, you have months before the arrival of your baby, and this is a great chance to start introducing new baby related items into the home, as well as routines and restrictions that will apply once the baby comes home. These changes and new things should be gradually introduced well before the new arrival. The last thing you want is for your dog to associate all the changes with your new bundle of joy. They may start to show some resentment towards the little one including fear or avoidance.
Fitting stair gates is essential for any home that has dogs and children. Unless you have eyes at the back of your head, it’s not possible to always supervise pets and children, especially if you need to leave the room. Stair gates are a must-have item that gives parents the option to separate them.
Unless you’re superstitious, it’s a good idea to set up the cot and pram to get your dog used to the smell and presence of these large, unusual items. We recommend taking your dog out for a practise walk with the pram so they can get used to walking nicely alongside it well before the baby arrives.
If you’re planning to change your dog’s access to certain parts of your home such as the nursery, your bedroom, or even the whole of upstairs once the baby comes home, start weeks before the arrival of the new family member.
Babies cry and make other noises that some dogs find scary. Good news is, there are plenty of online sound clips and CDs that you can play quietly in the background during mealtimes and periods of rest. By gradually increasing the volume each time your dog remains clam when the sound is played, they will eventually become used to these noises and they’ll become a normal sound in the house. One of the best things you can do is pair the sound with something the dog likes such as food or toys.
Use the time you have before baby arrives to brush-up on your dog’s basic obedience cues. You will find ‘sit’, ‘down’, ‘stay’, ‘leave it’ and loose lead walking very useful once the baby is here.
This might sound like a strange one, but you may want to consider getting your dog used to you cradling something in your arms, so start off with a doll. When you think about it, if this is your first baby, your dog isn’t likely to have seen you doing this before. It’s worth them becoming familiar with this beforehand.
In a perfect world, your dog would benefit from sticking to the routine they’re used to, however, when the baby arrives, this is bound to be shaken up. You may find it helpful to randomise your dog’s meal and walk times slightly so it’s not too much of a shock when the baby comes home.
If you’re worried about not being able to fulfil your dog’s exercise needs when you become parents, it’s worth looking at dog walking services and arranging a few meetings to discuss this. It’s not ideal to have a frustrated dog with so much energy to burn around a tiny newborn.
When that all-important day arrives and it’s time to bring home baby, it’s worth making sure you dog has had a good satisfying walk before they meet baby. They’ll hopefully be content and not as bouncy if they’re a little tired.
You may have been away from your dog for a few hours or even days depending on your hospital stay, so always greet your dog before you bring baby in the house. They’re likely to be really excited to see you and understandable, will want a bit of fuss from you.
When the time has come to introduce your four-legged friend to the newest member of the family, pop them on a lead with someone else holding them. Follow these steps:
It’s all very new and exciting for your dog and they’re bound to want to investigate different scenarios and actions involving you baby like feeding and nappy changes. Remember to keep calm and try not to tell your dog off. Instead, give them something else to do for example, this could be the perfect time for them to enjoy a stuffed Kong or a snuffle mat.
Dogs and babies, can and do live harmoniously in the same household. It’s just a big adjustment for them, especially if they’ve been so used to having you all to themselves. Some need more help than others to adapt to their new way of life.
If you have further questions or need more support, our friendly behavioural experts are here to help. They’re only a phone call away. Book an appointment here.
At Woodgreen, we take in hundreds of dogs and puppies every year – and find them loving new homes.
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Woodgreen Pets Charity rehomes an average of 700 dogs each year from its centre in Cambridgeshire. Whilst many of these are matched with new homes within an average of 35 days, the charity specialises in ‘high-end need’ dogs that require more intensive behavioural rehabilitation.
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