It’s time! We are finally preparing our home for a new little baby! But…..what about our other baby….our adorable, furry, sometimes a bit smelly, alien eyed…pug! For four years, our pug, Gizmo, has been the apple of our eye, the focus of many weekend outings, the recipient of much of our love, (and grocery budget), the little man in my life that can do no wrong and that 100% believes our world revolves around him.

Wow, what a shock he is in for when a two legged little one becomes the apple of our eye, and sadly, moves Gizmo down a rung (not by a lot), on the Kerrigan family totem pole…as much as I cannot wait for a child to invade our home, it breaks my heart to think of Gizmo feeling shafted. So, instead of continuing to give in to anticipated guilt for what Gizmo is about to go through, Michael and I have done our research on how to prepare our home for the new addition in a way that creates a smooth(er) transition for our curly tailed little guy.

1. This one is most important but does not necessarily help prepare your furry little one for baby, but is necessary none-the-less. Make sure your pet is up-to-date on his or her vaccinations. Going through the adoption process, this was required for us, and is something that all families bringing home a little one should put on top of their list.
   
2. Start preparing your dog now for the presence of a new object of your attention.
   • Carry around a little doll wrapped in a blanket while still giving your dog attention.
     
   • Put a car seat/baby carrier in the areas of the house where the family spends most of its time together so that it’s curiosity can be explored before baby comes.
     
   • Lay baby toys and baby blankets around the house and reprimand your dog if he or she starts using them as a chew toy. (Reprimand in a firm, but non-physical way. Make sure to reward your dog after so that resentment for the new baby does not build).
     
   • Start blocking off access to rooms in the house that the new baby will be in (if you don’t want the dog in these areas).
     
   • Sprinkle baby powder around the house to get your dog used to the smell of your new addition (About.com). Or if you can, bring home something the new baby has worn or been wrapped in at the hospital before bringing the baby home to get the dog used to the new babies specific smell.
   • I found a great website with baby noises that you can play so that your little critter is accustomed to the sounds this foreign family member will make. If your dog is anything like ours, and barks at most unusual sounds, you can start teaching he or she not to bark along with these new noises, as well as not to be startled and afraid (Baby Sounds).
     
   • Invite others over to your home that have babies and toddlers and start splitting your attention between the two. This will also get your pet used to following the new guidelines set for him or her. Reward your pet when he or she does well around the other children
     
   • Reward your dog regularly for adhering to the new boundaries. 
   • Doing these actions can slowly get the dog used to sharing your attention and to what the new boundaries will be, so that it is not all of a sudden. If you are doing this with enough time left before the baby gets here, do it in stages so it is gradual (dogmanners.com).
3. Revisit obedience classes to refresh your canine on who runs the house….yes, I laugh as I write this, our Pug runs our roost when I am the only one around. Also, focus on putting an end to any “play” biting for nipping, this can be dangerous around the fragile new baby (dogmanners.com)
   
4. When your baby comes home:
   
   • Have a neutral person (not mom or dad) bring the baby in the house for the first time (ehow.com)
     
   • Get used to giving your dog a few minutes of undivided attention first, and then move on to your new family member. This will show your dog he is not forgotten and still important. This will help to prevent the jealous feelings and actions that are most likely going to come.
     
   • When the new baby is out, play with your dog and the new baby. Yes, I know, you are exhausted, but this will go a long way in just a little time.
     
   • Let the dog be around and sniff the baby, this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship!
     
5. Do as I say, not as I had been doing….do not give into guilty feelings and lavish your animal with even more attention before the baby comes, this will only make it more difficult. Join forces with your spouse, and stick to your plan for getting the house and four legged baby ready for baby…..it will make the transition easier on everyone, including you.