Dogs and Babies: What You Need to Know

If you are bringing a new baby into your home, and you already have a dog at home, you might be feeling a little nervous about what to do. Dogs and babies can get along just fine, but obviously you will need to make some changes in your home and behavior so that both the dog and baby can stay happy. There are a couple of things that you should know about dogs and babies. Here is what you need to know:

• Babies are delicate and fragile: You probably already know that babies are delicate and fragile, but this is an important point that needs to be emphasized. You should not let your rowdy dogs too close to the baby, because a baby's delicate skin or body could get hurt by the most well-meaning dog. Do not let your dog nip or playfully bite your baby, because this could also really hurt the baby. Instead, keep your dog in control at all times - if your dog can be "controlled" with verbal commands, then that will be just fine. If not, then you will at least need to keep your dog on a leash for the first little while that he is around the new arrival!
• Baby exposure: Something that you should know is that dogs behave better around babies if they have been exposed to babies before. However, when introducing your dog to new babies, make sure that it is on a leash, so that it doesn't rush at the little baby and frighten it!
• Treats are a great thing: In regards to dogs, you will want to make sure that they keep happy while the baby is around. Treats are a great way to keep your dog happy. For example, treats will keep the dog busy eating so that it will not disturb the baby (especially if the baby is close to falling asleep!). In addition, it also will help your dog to be happy when your baby comes into the room! You see, your dog will automatically associate treats with the baby, which will help to keep the dog happy when it sees the baby. Therefore, treats can help your dog to remain positive and happy about the baby, instead of developing any kind of resentment.
• Separate spaces: You should also know that separate spaces the dog and baby are other important things to have in your home! Keep your dog in its separate space for the first while after the baby comes into the home. This way, the dog will get used to the smells and sounds of the baby, without actually disturbing the baby. In addition, a separate space is also important because it will allow the baby to sleep without the chance of the dog waking it up. If your dog is in a separate space, but still makes noise (such as barking), look into ways that you can control that noise (such as a barking collar).
• Attention and love: Both babies and dogs need attention and love, and you will have to manage how you will split this attention between them. Some people feel like it is a good idea to start giving less attention to your dog in the weeks before the baby arrives. Other people feel like it is important to keep giving the dog the same amount of attention. It is up to you to decide what you want to do in regards to attention - you know your dog better than anyone else! Just make sure that you don't cut off the attention that you give to your dog completely, or you might end up with a very sad and lonely pet! Make sure that you still spend a fair amount of quality time with your dog each day.

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