Introducing Your Dog to a New Baby

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

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Bringing home a new baby is an exciting time.  While you make adjustments to your own life, you should take the time to gradually adjust your dog’s life too.  Now that you have new responsibilities, your pet care schedule is likely to change.  Here are a few tips to help you and your dog adjust to life with a newborn.

Dog Introduction Tips:

• Bad Habits – Everyone gets a bit lax on the discipline from time to time.  However, now is the time to ensure your dog is well-behaved for your child’s safety.
• Grooming - Make sure that there isn’t pet hair hanging around and that your dog doesn’t bring dirt into the house.
• Acclimate – When your new baby arrives, it is going to be your number one priority.  Unfortunately, this means that you might be spending less quality time with your dog.  Gradually adjust your pet by practicing baby routines throughout the day so that your pet learns how to entertain itself for a few hours of the day.
• Introduction – Try to introduce your dog to your friends’ babies.  This experience will give them a better understanding of what it will be like when your newborn arrives home.
• Dog Sitting –Make sure that you schedule time for any dog walkers/sitters, depending on your work and life schedule.
• Exercise – Before introducing your pet, let them exercise.  This will reduce your dog’s energy and help make sure that he or she is calmer when around the baby.

Don’t wait until the baby is born to make these changes.  Give your pet plenty of time to adjust to everything associated with your newborn.  Contact Bregman Vet Group if you have any questions regarding your pet!