How to Get a Dog to Like a Baby
Preparing for my showtime infant was a daunting task. And so many questions came upwardly. What color should the nursery exist? What volition labor exist like? When do I order infant gates? Who is Sophie the giraffe? With all of the planning, my husband, Chris, and I, about forgot to enquire—what about the canis familiaris?
With all of the planning, we almost forgot to ask—what about the dog?
Chris and I adopted Sonny, our adorable chiweenie (Chihuahua – dachshund mix) in July of 2011. We had only moved dorsum to Seattle and were recently engaged, and a dog seemed like the appropriate adjacent step. It took Sonny a little while to warm up to his new surroundings and family, but after a month or then, he settled in but fine.
It wasn't until about seven or eight months into my pregnancy terminal year that it dawned on me that Sonny might demand assistance adjusting. Sonny was very spoiled; he got all the attention and all the snuggles. He loved to sleep, bask in the dominicus, swallow cheese, and cuddle in your lap. My parents also fawned all over him. A first grandchild would ruin his life, I realized! My biggest fright was that Sonny would deed out because of losing his share of the attention.
My biggest fear was that Sonny would act out considering of losing his share of the attention.
To figure out how to prevent this from happening, I went to my trusted friend: Google. I read a few articles from the pros, and some heartbreaking ones where the family pet concluded upward having to go. I was determined to ensure Sonny didn't accept to leave us. After all, he'south our baby too.
In the months leading up to my son'south birth, and in the months immediately after, we tried lots of tips and tricks for introducing Sonny to his new brother. Here'due south what worked—including one tip we'd never heard of, which has turned out to exist our favorite.
1. Getting Prepare
After Bennett was born but before nosotros brought him home, we followed the mutual advice of introducing the babe's scent to the dog. We brought home a babe blanket and let Sonny aroma and caress with it before he met infant Bennett.
2. Ongoing Attention
From the early days to now, nosotros endeavour our very best to ensure Sonny all the same gets a lot of attention. I've constitute that you really accept to work at this and exist mindful of information technology.
three. Infant = Treat!
We've made sure to associate the baby with adept things in Sonny'south mind. We use treat reinforcement in combination with daily babe activities. I of the accented best strategies has been to get exterior a lot and bring the canis familiaris! Both Sonny and Bennett love walks, and now Sonny associates anything Bennett-related with going for a walk. As a result, he loves Bennett, because Bennett is basically a walk guarantee.
4. Our Favorite Tip
This play tricks is by far the best affair nosotros've done to aid Sonny conform to Bennett. And it was so simple! We gave Sonny has own special spot in the baby'southward plant nursery: his very own dog bed.
This trick is by far the best thing we've done to assist Sonny adjust to Bennett. And information technology was so simple!
I've read that some parents don't allow their dogs in the plant nursery at all, and this decision is dependent on your dog and personal preference. Just in our case, knowing Sonny, keeping him out just wasn't a keen option. However, as I mentioned, Sonny loves cuddles. Normally that'south a good thing, simply post-baby information technology presented some challenges. I was worried that he'd desire to exist in our laps while we were feeding or reading to Bennett.
The solution? His domestic dog bed. It's a place reserved just for Sonny, where he tin can be close to u.s.a.—safely. Sonny loves to exist a part of the family, and now he can feel included when we're attending to Bennett in the nursery. In fact, putting a canis familiaris bed in there has worked so well, Sonny runs to the plant nursery. He heads straight to his bed to sentinel or balance as nosotros're in the rocking chair or at the changing table.
What the Future Holds
Bennett is now 9 months old, and all of our grooming has worked well. I think we definitely nailed the whole process of bringing dwelling a baby to a dog. But things proceed changing, of course. The claiming is at present treatment a domestic dog with a toddler—and the struggle is existent. Bennett tin crawl and motion effectually quickly. He can grab and compression things, and wants to practise said things to Sonny. We're doing our best to teach Bennett to "exist gentle," of class. Nevertheless, we're finding that at this stage, it's a footling easier to train the dog to exist more than enlightened. Nosotros're acknowledging and rewarding Sonny'southward adept behavior around Bennett with treats and love.
We're finding that at this stage, it'due south a little easier to train the dog to be more aware.
It certainly isn't perfect withal. Both dog and infant volition likely keep adjusting to one another over their various stages of life. But they exercise beloved each other. The look on Bennett's face when he sees Sonny? Pure delight. Add to that Sonny's excited reaction to seeing Bennett, and information technology makes it all worthwhile.
Source: https://www.rover.com/blog/new-baby-with-dog-true-story/
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