I am very excited that Carol Bryant from FIDO Friendly magazine will be guest blogging here each week on important dog issues and topics. This is Carol’s first guest post. Please help me in welcoming her… and read on to find out how to receive a 20% discount off a FIDO Friendly subscription – and how to get a chance to win a free 1-year subscription!

Babies, the saying goes, complete a household, make life worth living, and bring a sense of joy and vibrancy, hope and promise of a bright future. They also bring change in routine and a complete upheaval of lifestyle for others in the family. Older siblings might initially show resentment towards a new baby taking the spotlight away from what was once theirs: Your sole affection.

What about the canine variety in the family? Dogs need to acclimate with a period of adjustment, too. With a little bit of TLC and using the advice in this column, Fido will be howling rock a bye baby in no time.

Routine

A new routine will be established once baby comes home. Because dogs are creatures of habit, they’ll need time to adjust as well. Slowly decrease the amount of one-on-one time you spend with Fido. This doesn’t mean ignoring him or giving less of you. A sudden decrease in the amount of time spent with your dog once the baby arrives is likely to upset him more than if the change is gradual and over a period of time. Other family members can participate by spending time and engaging in Fido-friendly activities with the dog. In this way, the dog is still getting attention and slowly getting used to your presence lessening.

Jumping

Dogs who are jumpers or climbers need to have this behavior modified prior to the baby’s arrival. Install baby gates and barriers that allow Fido to see what is going on but prevents jumping. Don’t suddenly scold Fido, but work with him using techniques that teach proper behaviors. Positive reinforcement is key.

Help from Friends

Invite friends and family members over who have a baby/infant to start Fido’s adjustment process.  The scents, sounds, and routines of having a baby can be establishing through these visits. Easing in and taking the time before baby’s arrival will make the entire process much smoother.

Sights and Sounds

Try bringing a toy doll into the home, complete with realistic baby sounds, to help Fido adjust. Seeing you carry ‘something’ around and hearing cooing, crying, and a new voice before a baby enters the home can help with your dog’s adjustment to a new situation. When in doubt, think like the dog. How would you feel if your routine and world suddenly shifted without warning? Fido’s the same way. Sprinkle baby powder on your skin and allow the family dog to get used to new scents.

Training

Whoever says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks didn’t see an animal behaviorist before saying so. Think about taking a class with Fido on how to humanely and safely control behaviors. Knowing what to do and how to react before baby enters the family will keep stress to a minimum.

Reward

Once the baby comes home, be sure to reward Fido for his patience and gentleness around baby. Have a small stash of treats in your pockets to show your gratitude. Give the reward in conjunction with both tactile (touch) and verbal reward. “Good boy, Fido!” with a scratch behind the ears goes a long way in boosting a dog’s morale.

Bite Prevention

All family members should know how to prevent dog bites, even from the most loving of Fido family members. We recently authored a topic on this subject and suggest clicking on this link to learn more about this very important topic. Crawling babies are curious. Children sometimes try to hug dogs. Fido may not like this. Monitor behavior and teach children ground rules and dog safety issues early on. An ounce of prevention is definitely worth its weight in bronzed booties.

Mind Those Squeak Toys (and other fun paraphernalia)

Both infant and dog toys are often bright, loud, squeaky, and elicit some sort of joyful reaction. In the wrong hands or teeth, this is a potential snap fest. Best advice? Don’t let it happen. Keep baby toys away from Fido and vice versa. Babies are curious. Even more so, walking toddlers are extra curious. Pulling on ears, tugging on tails, and tossing things at Fido are all no-no’s. Don’t allow baby to be in these situations and keep Fido out of harm’s way. Teach children to respect animals early on.

Fido First

When you first return from the hospital, allow your significant other or someone else to enter the residence holding the baby. Dogs love to rejoice when their guardian arrives home. Allow him to rejoice without the baby in your arms. After a few minutes, then hold your new bundle of joy. Slow and steady always wins the race, especially when the reward is Fido’s understanding and adjustment to a new family member.

For more information about your canine family member, check out the latest issue of FIDO Friendly magazine. All Mom Generations readers are entitled to a 20% discount off a year’s subscription. Click on this link and enter promotion code “Tasha” at checkout to receive the discount.

And we are so excited to offer two Mom Generations readers the chance to win a FREE 1-year subscription to FIDO Friendly magazine (there is both a digital and in-print option).

*To enter to win, leave a comment here telling us how your dog acclimated to having a new baby in the house. OR, if Fido is still your only baby, tell us if you’ve had any experience being around babies with your dog.*

Contest ends Friday, June 11 at 5PM EST. We will announce the winner here and contact him/her via email.