Before the Baby Arrives
- Play baby sounds on YouTube or through a speaker, loud-start slowly and work up to trying to do this every day multiple times a day. Doing this helps the dogs get used to loud and sudden noises. If you can, use a speaker and put the speaker in a separate room than you are in.
- Slowly increase volume
- Reward the dogs with treats and praise at first and then slowly phase this out.
- *Your dogs will need to get used to less attention on them so slowly phasing the rewards out during these sessions is important.
- *When the baby first comes, do your best to use treats in the beginning again
- Move around furniture or arrange your house accordingly now so they have time to get used to the change before the baby arrives. If you can, also introduce them to the crib, bouncers and any new items that will be in the house so they are not too scary. Any changes that you are able to make ahead of time will be much better than making all changes at once.
- Teach your dogs cues to get off of furniture or move away from the space because you are not going to want them all over you while you are holding the baby
- *Carry around a rolled up blanket while moving to different parts of the house, make sure there is no jumping.
- “Four on the floor greetings” is a dog training technique ensuring all four paws remain on the ground during greetings to prevent jumping. It promotes calm behavior by ignoring the dog when they jump and rewarding them only when they are settled, often by asking for a sit.
- Get them used to baby gates and being left out of rooms now so it is less stressful when the baby comes
- Any kind of obedience training is also highly encouraged especially place training
Once the Baby Arrives
- Keep treats in jars high up and around house
- Get enrichment toys such as Kong’s, lick mats, and puzzle toys to relieve stress during especially angry baby moments
- *Do not scold the dogs for initial reactions to the baby
- They are going to receive less attention than they would have before the baby so making sure everyone is comfortable is very important
- Never leave dogs and the baby unsupervised
- *The hardest transition period is when the baby starts crawling!
- Make sure you have baby gates available in order to provide adequate separation
Preparing a dog for a new baby is crucial to ensure safety, reduce stress for both the pet and family, and prevent behavioral issues. It allows the dog to adjust to significant, overwhelming changes in routine, sounds, and scents before the baby arrives, fostering a positive, safe, and calm introduction.