Prepare your pooch for the arrival of junior

Just as you need to prepare yourself for baby’s arrival, so does your pet. Mother & Baby gives pointers on how to prime your pooch for the advent of junior.   
By Jessica Leow 

The earlier you start adjusting routine and boundaries, the better. To ease the transition, keep your pet out of areas that will be off-limits after the baby’s arrival, such as the nursery, as early as possible.  Ensure that your dog is obedience trained. It is easier to ease the arrival of a new baby with a well-trained dog who can follow simple commands.  The day you come home from the hospital, reassure your pet with lots of TLC the minute you arrive.

It’s wonderful that a tiny new creature will soon join your home. But hey, don’t forget that there’s already a baby in the house. Yup, we’re talking about your pet. Whether it’s a dog, cat or any other furry friend, remember ― it was there first!

Your pet may feel confused or threatened if it’s replaced on your priority list by another “being”. Indeed, it may react defensively when your little one pulls its tail or usurps its usual spot. So, efforts to prepare your pet for the arrival of your baby will help all parties adjust. And don’t wait until the baby’s here ― pets are smart cookies, they get clued in way before you reckon they would. 

“My cats Sammy and Chalky knew something was different when I was pregnant with Kieran,” recalls marketing communication manager Julie Leong, now a mum of two boys. “They were very curious about my belly and all the new stuff we were carting home.”

The earlier you start adjusting routine and boundaries, the better. To ease the transition, keep your pet out of areas that will be off-limits after the baby’s arrival, such as the nursery, as early as possible.

Creepy as it sounds, you might to consider buying a baby doll to interact with (cradling, talking) while your mutt obeys a “sit” or “down” command, or the tabby stays at arm’s length. This sets the stage for the future. Reward your pet with lots of praise or a small treat.

Never leave your baby alone with the pet. Even the gentlest animal can become nervous when the baby starts crying and remember, they may behave unpredictably. 

FOR DOG OWNERS Reduce the number of walks. Sounds harsh, but it’s far easier for Fido to adjust before the baby arrives. This way, it won’t link the cut in attention with the baby when the latter arrives. Ensure that your dog is obedience trained. It is easier to ease the arrival of a new baby with a well-trained dog who can follow simple commands like “down”, “sit” and “stay”. With a baby on your hands, the last thing you need is the extra commitment required to train a dog from scratch. Have somebody bring a blanket or outfit with the newborn’s scent to the home. “The dog will identify with the baby’s scent through the item, and associate it with the scent when the baby comes home. The dog will also be more comfortable and not have a shock once the baby returns home,” explains dog trainer Anna Tong. The day you come home from the hospital, reassure your pet with lots of TLC the minute you arrive. Besides, it’s bound to miss you since you’ve been away for a spell. Let Daddy hold the baby, preferably in a separate room. Leash your hound and let it view your baby from a distance when you first introduce Lassie to your sweetie. Reward it with a treat and lots of praise. While babies won’t contract canine diseases, they can catch worms and get flea bites, so keep your dog’s immunisations up to date, while ensuring that you have the necessary precautionary medication at hand.

FOR CAT OWNERS As cats are very territorial animals, it’s vital that off-limit areas are clearly established well ahead of the baby’s arrival. Set aside one room where you spend quality time with your cat, so it feels reassured. Many cats dislike the sound of crying babies. Try playing a CD of crying, while stroking your cat. Plan ahead and install a climbing centre with a box on top, so it has somewhere to jump up to if it feels the need to hide away when the baby arrives. Remember, it might take a while to adjust.  During your pregnancy, do not clean out the cat’s litter trays or handle faecal matter, or you’ll risk catching toxoplasmosis, a deadly disease which can affect the eyes and brains of unborn babies.   When the baby arrives, give the cat a treat when you’re feeding your baby ― this lets the cat know you’re thinking of it too. If puss tries to crawl on your lap when you’re breastfeeding, remove it and encourage it to sit next to you instead. And don’t forget basic hygiene rules, like not letting your cat lick your baby’s face. It’s vital to ease your pet into a new routine before baby arrives, and to give it oodles of love while being firm on set boundaries. With time and effort, babies and pets can get on like the proverbial house on fire. Who knows, you may even see a marked improvement in your pet’s behaviour. Julie can attest to that, “Sammy and Chalky are totally different now that we’ve got two kids ― we used to have to wheedle and bribe them, now they come running every time we pat the couch or call them.”

 If you have any comments or practical suggestions, write to us at editor@family.sg

- Mother & Baby
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