How to Help Your Dog Adjust to a New Baby in the Family

Are you bringing a new baby into your home? Having a baby is a really exciting thing - but it also can be a source of worry if you're not quite sure how your dog will take to the new family member. Dogs are very sociable, loving pets by nature, but they also can get jealous if all of your attention is turned onto a new baby instead of them! If you have a dog and are planning to bring a baby home there are some things that you need to do. Here are some ways that you can help you dog adjust to a new baby in the family:

• Keep your dog separate from the baby for a while: It is a good idea to keep your dog separate from the new baby for a while. This will give the dog a chance to get used to the smells and cries of the baby. You also could bring baby clothing items or toys over to the dog as well, so that it can smell the clothes and be familiar with the way that the baby smells. Just be sure that you wash the baby clothes and toys after the dog has had contact with them, though!
• Give your dog treats when the baby is around: Another great way to help your dog adjust to a new baby in the family is by giving your dog treats when the baby is around. Not only will this promote your dog to have good behavior when the baby is around, but the dog will look forward to being around the baby because of the treats! This is a great way to make sure that your dog is happy when the baby comes into the room!
• Give attention to your dog: It seems as if one of the reasons why a dog has a hard time adjusting to a new baby is because of the lack of attention the dog receives. After a baby comes into the house, usually all of the attention is focused on the baby instead of the dog. The dog suddenly misses out on the usual playtime, scratches behind the ears and loving pats on the head once the baby arrives! Prevent this from happening by giving attention to your dog (perhaps even a little more than usual!) so that your dog will feel loved while adjusting to this new little family member! As long as you show your dog how much you love it, your dog should be able to adjust well to the new baby in the family.
• Expose your dog to a lot of babies: Before the new baby arrives in your family, one of the things that you should do is expose your dog to new babies. Of course, your dog should be in a controlled setting when he is introduced to babies, such as on a leash. This will give your dog a chance to get used to the smells, sounds and looks of babies. Remember to remain very calm and in control of your dog throughout the whole process of introducing the dog to babies.

Babies are a really fun addition to your family, but just make sure that your dog is able to adjust well to this change! Dogs still need to get attention, and it is a good idea to start exposing your dog to "baby smells" and "baby sounds" before your baby actually arrives. By following these steps, you should be able to keep your dog happy and well adjusted to this little newcomer to the family!

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