A Small Child and a Big Dog: Secrets of Good Relationships Between Children and Pets
The situation when there is already a dog in the house, and a new family member is “on the way,” is familiar to many families.
Therefore, tips that will help avoid potential problems will be very useful for owners of pets and newborn children.
1. Before meeting, make sure the dog feels comfortable. Let it eat well and go for a walk - such preparation will help reduce the risk of an aggressive reaction.
2. Introduce the dog to the baby. This should be done by the person the dog considers its owner. Let it sniff and examine the baby when it appears at home – always under the owner’s supervision.
3. Break contact positively. Simply give your dog a treat to make him go into another room.
4. Over the course of several days, arrange short meetings according to the same scheme. The dog will not immediately perceive the baby as a "little master", because now the child is an unfamiliar creature for it, from which it is not clear what to expect.
5. Give your pet enough attention, especially at first. Dogs can become jealous, and believe me, they quickly understand why a person has changed their behavior.
6. Maintain your dog's positive attention to the baby with affection, praise, or treats.
Earlier we talked about how to motivate a child to help around the house.
