Dogs And Babies: The Beautiful Connection

Earlier on, we wrote about how to prepare for your puppy's first day in a new home. Now, it's time to learn how to prepare your puppy for a new addition to your family! Read more to find out.

New Baby On The Way? Prepare Your Dog!

When you bring a new baby home, your dog will face an overwhelming number of novel sights, sounds and smells. It may find some of them upsetting, especially if it didn’t have opportunities to spend time with children as a puppy. You’ll drastically alter your daily routine, so your dog’s schedule will change, too. And, out of necessity, it will get less of your time and attention. It may be a difficult time for it, especially if he's been the “only child” for a while.

To make things go as smoothly as possible for everyone, it’s important to take some time to prepare your dog for the arrival of your new addition. In the months before the baby comes, you’ll focus on two things:

• Teaching your dog the skills she’ll need to interact safely with her new family member - having good verbal control of your dog can help when it comes to juggling her needs and the baby’s care. 
• Helping your dog adjust to the many new experiences and changes ahead - many dogs experience anxiety when their lifestyles are drastically altered. Although things will change with the arrival of your new baby, you can minimize your dog’s stress by gradually getting her used to these changes in advance.

Source: Aspca.org

Why Do Dogs Protect Babies

According to the American Kennel Club, "Canines are smitten with babies and can form strong connections because of the amount of time spent together. Both a baby and a dog, especially a young pup, have a common desire for a playmate and someone who will give them attention.

The relationship your baby will create with your pup is unique and can have both physical and psychological advantages for their development. One of the most significant benefits is that dogs make babies happy."

"It’s also been proven that interacting with dogs raises levels of serotonin and dopamine, the chemical building blocks of positive feelings. They’re also just fun to be around."

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