preparing your pet for your baby education officer environmental health department louise laurens
TRANSCRIPT
Preparing your pet for your
babyEducation Officer
Environmental Health Department
Louise Laurens
Ideas and tips…This presentation has been designed to give expecting parents a few ideas and tips on preparing their pet for the new
arrival
If you have any concerns please seek professional advice from your Veterinarian
or a professional dog trainer
Never leave ANY dog unattended with any
child or baby
Expecting a baby is a very exciting & special time
Preparing can be scary for the parents and dog
Don’t be scared to ask for help or assistance as you are not alone
Did you know that around 80% of dogs show one or more behaviour problems
These problems can include barking, digging, jumping, escaping, destructiveness and biting
A new baby can be stressful for the pet and high levels of stress can lead to bad
behaviour
It is important for new parents to identify any dog issues before it
becomes a problem
A well behaved dog creates a calmer home environment
Dogs, just like their ancestor the Wolf, live in packs
The dog belongs to your family’s pack
Each pack needs a leader and a pack order
The leader needs to be dependable, consistent, respected and in control at
all times
CONSISTENCY + PATIENCE = RESPECT
You are to eat before feeding the dog or at least have a snack
You are to go through doors and gates first before your dog
Teach your pet manners such as ‘sit’, ‘stay’, ‘gentle’
Dogs should have their own bed and should not share yours
Sharing your bed may seem ok to you, but to your dog it
makes you equal and this can cause issues with guarding as it breaks
pack structure
Does your dog:
• Growl at you at any time• Seem pushy• Mouth you• Jump on you• Push past you through a door• Lean on you• Steal objects like socks or mobile
phones• Seem possessive of food or toys• Seem unable to learn
Who is the leader…Did you say yes to any of those
questions?If so is your dog the leader of your pack?
Your dog needs YOUYOU to start training them and preparing them for this new
arrival
Crying CD…This CD is approx 30 minutes of baby crying sounds and is available to borrow from your
midwife
Playing this CD will allow your dog to get used to this new noise
If the dog gets agitated, howls or barks keep playing the CD until the dog is not reacting
Sit and drop…
Refresh your dog’s memory to sit, drop and stay
If your dog doesn’t know how to sit and drop and stay now is the ideal
time to start teaching them
Bringing a nappy home…
When the time arrives and your baby is born get your partner or support person to bring home from the hospital a dirty
nappy for the dog to sniff
Do not leave the nappy down Do not leave the nappy down
as the dog will eat it!as the dog will eat it!
The introduction…When bringing your baby home make the
introduction slowly, calmly and safely
Place your dog on a lead and put them into a sit stay or drop stay position, then when all is calm and you are ready, show the baby to
your dog
Remember to praise all calm behaviour and NEVER leave any dog unattended with a
baby
The pram…Teach your dog to walk calmly
beside the pram
When out walking do NOT attach your dog’s lead to the pram
Worms, Pets and People…
It is important that you worm all your pets on a regular basis
Roundworms can cause blindness in children
It is recommended that all pets be wormed monthly when around babies or children
Did you know …Parasites can live under fingernails for two
months!
Older Pets…Pets over 7 years of age are moving
into their senior years
Be aware of the possibility of sore hips, loss of hearing etc
Regular vet checks are recommended
Cats…It is important cats do not sleep in the cot
Discourage cats from getting into the cot
Prepare cats the same as dogs
Allow time for cats to adjust to the change
Keep litter trays behind a baby gate and out of the way of a crawling baby
Water spray bottles can be used to spray the cat with water as a deterrent
A fly screen door can be fitted on the
nursery to limit your pets access into this
area
Spending time with your pets should be fun, but remember to spend time when youyou are ready, and not when the dog barks or
demands your attention
Never leave ANY pet unattended with any
child or baby
Pets provide unconditional love and companionship to children
Pets don’t judge or criticise children
It is important that you teach children to respect animals and
involve them in training when they are old enough
