Everything You Need to Know When Introducing Your Dog to Your Baby

Congratulations! Your family is expanding a little, but as a dog mum or dad, you may be feeling a little nervous or anxious about how exactly you're going to introduce your dog to your new bundle of joy. There is always going to be a pang of nerves when it comes to safety and how your Fido or your baby is going to react.

But never fear; you can follow tips and strategies to make this process simple and easy while making sure everyone is as comfortable as possible. This is precisely what we're talking about in today's guide, so let's get straight into it.

1. Start Establishing New Routines

Of course, routines are necessary for well-behaved dogs.

Your dog has picked up on routines such as morning walks, feeding schedules, potty breaks, playing, and bedtime. However, your dog may become bewildered if a new baby enters the picture and all of these traditions are thrown out of whack.

"It's best to begin forming new behaviours as soon as possible so that your dog knows what to expect when the baby arrives," shares Daniel Stonys, a lifestyle blogger at Via Writing and Academized.

"Start introducing new routines a few months before your due date so they can become used to them. Start walking your dog at this new time if you expect to take the baby out in the stroller at a different time than you walk your dog. Get your dog adjusted to the new schedule if bedtime is going to be earlier."

2. Allow the Dog to Explore Its Environment

A new infant brings with it new sights, smells, and sounds. Allow your dog to become accustomed to weird items such as strollers and baby toys as you begin to prepare for your baby's arrival.

Strollers, high chairs, diapers, and car seats are all unfamiliar to your dog and might cause stress, so get them early on before the baby is born to allow your pup to become accustomed to them all by allowing him to sniff items from a safe distance.

You may also want to introduce your dog to the sounds that your noisy baby toys generate. The aroma of the newborn is the most crucial thing for the dog to become acquainted with. This includes any lotions and products you plan to use with your child, usually at least a month ahead of time.

The most important thing is to let your dog learn and explore at its own speed while providing plenty of positive reinforcement!

3. Making the Introductions

Prepare your dog for when it's time to bring your baby home. Give the dog plenty of exercise to help him release his energy and remain calm. When you get home from the hospital, welcome the dog the same way you always do. While one parent stays in the car with the child, the other enters and welcomes the dog.

Then, as the other person welcomes the dog, return to monitor your child. During their initial encounter, keep the dog on a leash. Keep calm and comfortable when bringing the infant inside so your dog will follow your lead. Allow the dog to sniff and examine the newborn from a safe distance.

Tina Marie, a pet writer at Essayroo and Oxessays, explains:

"Allow the dog to get closer and closer to the infant each day so that the dog learns suitable limits with the newborn. For example, allow the dog to approach the baby's feet while speaking to him in a loving tone, praising excellent behaviour, and allowing the dog to sniff the baby's feet. At first, avoid direct eye contact and gradually increase it."

Again, the idea is to take things carefully at first and to be present to oversee every step of the journey!

4. Pay Attention to Your Dog

After the baby has gone to sleep, it's easy to get caught up in diaper changes, feedings, and precious minutes of slumber.

Allowing this to stand in the way of expressing your dog affection is not a good idea. Even with a new baby, your dog still requires daily exercise, fun, and attention. Giving your dog attention and sticking to their schedule will help them feel safe in your home.

When your baby is awake rather than asleep, it's critical to show the dog affection. She will notice if the dog only receives attention while the baby is not present. She may believe that the kid diverts attention away from her, which could lead to resentment or uncertainty.

Conclusion

It's exciting for both you and your dog to welcome a new family member into your house.

While you can't expect your dog to know everything about what's to come, you can set both of them up for a healthy connection by planning ahead of time and gradually introducing your kid and your dog.

The recommendations we've provided above will assist in guaranteeing that everything goes smoothly when you introduce your dog to a new baby!

Elizabeth Hines is a lifestyle and pet blogger at Top Canadian writers and Study demic. She loves sharing her parenting experiences to help families get the most out of life. She also writes for online magazine and blogs, such as Writing populist, in her free time.