Monthly quick tip

Pregnancy

I have helped many of my clients through this transition. It is a subject that is important and needs to be addressed. Remember behaviors take time to develop and your dog needs to know how to please you. It is not about you seeing what your dog is going to do. Here are some helpful tips!

How to prepare your dog for a new baby!

When becoming pregnant many concerns arise as to how a dog will receive a new family member. For many people there are questions like will my dog be jealous of the baby? How do I teach my dog to be around children?

Some dogs can acquire new behaviors during their owner’s pregnancy and when the baby arrives!

Depending on a dog’s age; some become more territorial, others can become anxious and needy. Dogs pick up on changes!

Since dogs are routine oriented, they often become inconsistently consistent to our inconsistencies.

For example, when a new baby arrives the nighttime schedule for you may become very erratic. New people come to the house and life as you knew it changes.

Key: These tips apply to all breed’s small/ med/ large approximately one month before your due date.

Even though your dog may not show any evidence of having a problem during your pregnancy.  Creating a new schedule for your dog in anticipation of the birth of your baby will give your dog a sense of security during this transition and give you peace of mind.

People training:  Don’t feel guilty this is positive reinforcement! I assure your dog love a routine. You set the tone with a happy voice, comfy bed, and a delicious bone. Guide him into this gated area on a leash. That way you are leading him not coaxing him! Don’t worry, its all good. Adult dogs and even elderly dogs dig this process! It gives them a positive direction of how to please you and get ready for the new family member!

This is NOT a time out, punishment or any thing resembling that. Think the Four Season’s Hotel! A nice bed, music, water, a good bone to chew…what could be better!

Create a new schedule for your dog!

If your dog is nervously following you around he is anticipating a change. The best thing to do is to create a space for him in a kitchen, hallway or any central part of your house by using a baby gate or a corral. This space is used for short periods of time! DO this while you are HOME.

 In the near future you will have a new baby arriving, relatives and friends visiting and your new nighttime schedule. Gating your dog enables your dog to comfortably be apart of the action with out jumping barking, protecting and being told No bark, jump or being put outside! The key is to get him used to this way before the new baby arrives. Also when your bundle of joy comes home gating your dog allows your baby with the big ears to see, smell and get used to things over time. Remember your dog can still have free time in the house and outside time, walks, love. This is just a behavior modification tool to help when the baby arrives for the first couple of months at certain key times.

Use a gate or coral to create a new space for your dog for short periods of time, while you are home. Remember to initiate this gated space while you are home only starting with 20 min. Give him a special chew bone to chew and do this while you are reading, taking a nap or watching television.

Gating or corraling your dog will teach him to wait and get used to a new pattern as well as make him feel more secure in the long run when the baby arrives.  Remember when babies do arrive there is crying and diaper changes through out the night etc. Teaching your dog his space will only make him feel more secure until everything settles into a new routine.

      How to gate:

Guide your dog into the gated area on a leash. Say the word sit, then wait while backing up and put up the gate and take off the leash. Make sure your dog has a comfy dog bed, water and has a delicious bone to chew. You can hang out in there with him for a while. To get him out of the gated area: approach the gate, lean over and out the leash on. Say the word sit as you gently pull up on the leash. Repeat until your dog sits. Then begin saying wait. Remember your voice should be mellow not stern. Repeat wait as you remove the gate. If your dog tries to bolt out of the gated area he is on a leash. Just put the gate down and bring him back in the gated area and say No!. Repeat sit and wait. Take your time… we are teaching your dog to relax and learn that wait means hang out. Then as your dog gives you eye contact as he is sitting there waiting to know what to do. Say the word o.k! to indicate that the wait is over and walk him out of the gated area. It is a good idea then to walk him outside to go to the bathroom after being gated and then take the leash off and give him free time with you in the house or in the yard.

Positive triggers!

Put on music or the t.v. on while your dog is gated. Yup…music! Sounds crazy but it works. What music does is it mutes out all the outside sounds and sets a nice mellow tone for your dog. Since dogs are routine oriented YOU are saying wait and relax by gating him. Trust me you will what this option when your baby arrives. This will trigger a hanging out mood.

Gating Tip: Take your dog on a nice walk before you gate him. That way he will associate the gating as relaxing and not anxiety.

How long?

For adult dogs and puppies that have never been gated always do this while you are home for short periods of time. 20 minutes a couple times a day just to get him used to a new routine.

Why?

Gating your dog in a central area of your house like a kitchen for short periods of time allows your dog to have positive rules and will help him acclimate to change when your routine changes as the baby is born. Some dogs sense your anxiety and the changes around your house in anticipation of the baby’s arrival. Also when your baby arrives you will have friends and relatives over to visit and all of you’re dogs bad habits will seem worse. Barking at the doorbell, jumping up on guests, etc. Gating allows you as the dog owner to set the tone of your household and give your dog a sense of security during this transition.

1. Basic training on a leash.

Reviewing basic commands on a leash allows your dog to bond with you and be praised. I know this sounds crazy but heel your dog on a leash around the house and in and out of the new babies room asking him to sit but it is a great way to bond with your dog!

Do this 2 minutes a day. The process creates eye contact from your dog and gives him praise. At first he may be so excited and jump up thinking he is going for a walk but he /she will get used to this exercise. Dogs are pack animals..think follow the leader!

 Applying a “stay” while you have a sandwich or read the Sunday paper etc.

2. Time feed your dog.

This will help avoid your dog becoming territorial over his food. It is very important that your dog not confuse his pecking order. Leaving food out for your dog to graze can lead to him becoming possessive over his food and toys. Around small children this is NOT a good thing.

3. Regular exercise

A tired dog is always a better dog. Take 10 minutes out of your day and play fetch with your dog and tire him out. Take him for a long walk. Great for couples to hang out together and bond.  If you have a busy schedule get a dog walker. 

Well…there you go.. tell a friend and join me next month for some more great tips on what to do when your baby arrives and what to look out for in your dogs behavior!

All my best,

Inger