I get this question all the time: how can I prepare my dog for the arrival of my baby?
There are lots of things you can do to prepare your dog for the arrival of your baby.
Preparing Your Dog For The Arrival Of Your Baby
The most important thing you can do to prepare your dog for your baby’s arrival is to start making any changes in your dog’s life RIGHT NOW that she might view as unpleasant!
In order to do this, you’ll need to take an inventory of your dog’s behavior and consider the impact on your life with a little one in tow.
But whatever you do, don’t wait to make adjustments until your little one has arrived.
In other words, if your dog is used to sleeping in bed with you but you won’t want her there when baby is around…stop doing it now.
If you are not going to have as much time for walks in the park…start tapering them down now.
If changing around the layout of your place is going to cost your dog some of her favorite resting spots…make those changes now.
The list goes on.
Don’t Wait To Make Changes
Think about what your life and schedule might look like with a baby on the ground and what that will mean for you dog. Then implement the relevant changes as soon as possible.
You can make the adjustment gradually or abruptly. But whatever the case, make sure you do it before baby lands on Planet Earth.
Why?
Because your dog is not stupid! If you wait to make the relevant changes, she will quickly figure out that the arrival of your baby is directly related to a significant decrease in her quality of life.
That, in turn, can lead to one of life’s nastiest emotions: jealousy. And jealousy has consequences! I’ve seen it happen more times than I care to admit and the outcome is rarely good.
I’ll say it one last time, start making changes now, before your baby arrives.
