Dear Miss Behavin’: We’re expecting our first baby this spring and wondering how we might help our dogs adapt to the changes ahead. Any tips for a successful transition?
I’ll start with what not to do – don’t procrastinate, don’t banish the dogs to the back yard, and don’t stress about it!
Instead, make your changes early, even months before baby arrives. Babies bring all sorts of new smells, sounds, and excitement which is more than enough for dogs to absorb. Waiting until the last minute or after the baby has arrived will likely create more stress for you and the dogs.
Before the baby arrives, work out your logistics at home. Order the baby gates, stash away some novel dog toys for a rainy day, and if you think you need it, contact a trainer ahead of time to sort out any manners or training your dogs might help with.
If your dogs have free access to the house now but you know you don’t want them in the nursery, put up the baby gate now to ensure they respect the new boundaries. Additionally, if the dogs won’t be sleeping in your bedroom once baby arrives, get them acclimated to their new sleeping space ahead of time so they aren’t shocked when the new roommate arrives.
If your dogs eat, walk, sleep, and play at the same time every day, do them a small favor and start shifting their schedule a bit. Feed them a few minutes earlier or later and surprise them with a walk during a different time of day. By reducing the anticipation of their favorite activities, you will actually lower their expectations creating a less stressful day to day routine. It might sound “ruff” now, but it will likely be a reality quite soon.
Last but not least, make arrangements around your due date for someone to look after your dogs while you’re away. Whether it be a day or a week, having this set up ahead of time will be one less thing you’ll have to think about.