American Bulldog - Helping Your Dog Adjust To Your New Kid

By Author: Ricardo Limbardo
Total Articles: 1131
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The House is Big Enough; What's the Problem?

There are several kinds of home setups, but in a household where a pet is pretty much the center of attention, especially in those of newly married couples with a pet and waiting for their firstborn, a period of adjustment is clearly necessary. The response of the long-time pet to the new baby may avry based on the attitude of the pet. In most cases, they are the ones who manifest signs of surprise and disorientation with regards to the new member of the family. Opinions about how to treat a long-time pet and a new baby vary. Some dog experts think that distance should be placed between the pet and the baby, while some dog experts disagree by saying that frequent time together can help a dog ease into the idea of having a new addition to the family. However, the dog's discomfort may also be heightened because of the new changes, the noises, and the new routines that need to be formed at the arrival of the new kid. This gives us a very helpful insight into how to prepare for this situation even before it comes.

Preparing Your Dog Even Before the Stork Arrives

Pets ...
... can be very sensitive to the new noises and the new routines. You can, however, ease it into the transition by familiarizing your dog with signs of the new baby even before the baby is brought home. Some dog owners prepare their dogs during the period when the new baby is still at the hospital. They bring home blankets that carry the baby's scent, or let the dog listen to taped baby cries.

When the Baby Arrives

If, over the years of taking care of your dog, you've managed to make it feel like the baby of the family, the arrival of a new baby that will surely attract all the attention can also cause negative feelings in the dog. The best way to help your dog adjust to the new kid is to assure your pet that the arrival of the new baby does not affect its status in the household at all. If you are a couple, take turns watching the baby, and also, the dog. Create a schedule or an agreement so that both the baby and the dog will get equal attention. Don't just suddenly shut your dog out like some unwanted stray mutt. This will definitely cause problems in your dog's behavior, and it may even feel inclined to not like your new kid at all, which can also cause bigger problems. Aside from that, though isolating your dog from the new baby is not exactly a good idea because the dog will certainly not get used to the baby that way, putting a safe distance between a dog and a new baby may also be a good idea. You don't need to keep them apart for long, just until the dog is warming up to the idea of a new member of the family. The dog will start to warm up to the idea when it is assured that it will still be given attention, care, and love. You can also further encourage the dog's acceptance of the new member of the family by also exposing them to each other at times. It would also probably be a good idea to expose them to each other at a time when the new baby is not irritable and uncomfortable. Dogs are very sensitive creatures; they can also pick up such emotions, and that's obviously not a good way to jumpstart their friendship. Also, as the baby grows up, increase the interaction between your pet and your baby. This will help in developing a bond between them as well, and to make sure that your baby does not get scared of the dog.

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