Preparing Your Dog for a Newborn's Arrival: A Guide

If you haven't encountered this before, you might be surprised to learn that dogs can exhibit a strong sense of jealousy and even suspicion towards newborns. However, in most cases, this behavior tends to fade away as the baby grows up.

The primary reason for this is that owners often shift their attention and care from their dogs to the new baby, leading to feelings of neglect and dissatisfaction in the pets. Additionally, the crying and noises made by the baby can be stressful and uncomfortable for dogs, which is why many people now watch videos of infants before having a child to help their dogs get accustomed to these sounds.

Even after taking these steps, if your dog remains upset, here's what you can do:

Dogs are incredibly adaptable, but they need their owners to prepare in advance. Forcing them to adapt can actually have the opposite effect.

Before welcoming a newborn into your home, keep the following points in mind:

Furniture:

Newborns require a variety of items, such as cribs, strollers, and diapers, which will inevitably take up space. It's crucial to prepare for this in advance and give your dog time to adjust. Avoid waiting until the baby is almost here to make these changes, as it can add unnecessary stress to your furry friend.

New Smells:

Dogs rely heavily on their sense of smell to understand the world around them. This includes getting to know the baby. Since newborns often spend 4 to 7 days in the hospital being observed, you can bring home items with the baby's scent, like clothes or blankets, to help your dog get accustomed to the new smell before the baby arrives.

Familiarization:

Some dogs may not have had much interaction with children and could even have negative associations. To address this, it's important to expose your dog to children, especially those who love dogs, and allow them to become familiar with children's behaviors, such as rough handling or loud noises. This will be beneficial for their future interactions with the newborn.

Toys:

Newborns come with a plethora of toys that make noise and light up. If your dog hasn't been exposed to these before, they might be scared. Just like with the furniture, prepare these toys in advance and let your dog become familiar with them.