Cribs and Canines
Dog Training for New Parents in San Antonio!
Alamo Dog Training is proud to provide in-home training services for expecting parents. Any major transition can be tough on your dog. After all, they thrive on structure and routine. A change of schedule, moving house, adding another pet into the mix, and—you guessed it—adding a new baby to their life can cause a tremendous amount of stress for your pup.
While you’re setting up the nursery and working hard to prepare yourself for the upcoming changes, don’t forget about the dog! The trainers at Alamo Dog Training can help your dog get used to some of the changes to their routine in advance. We can help you set new boundaries and expectations early on so that your dog doesn’t connect the changes with the new baby. This helps to prevent jealousy.
Some common ways we help dogs adjust is to:
- Reinforce basic obedience training
We want to be sure that your dog will listen to commands without a second’s hesitation. Say you have a larger dog, and your baby is on a playmat on the floor. You’ll need to know that your dog will sit, stay, and lie down the moment you tell them to avoid a dangerous situation.
- Resolve any minor behavioral issues
If your dog jumps on furniture or people, it may be a minor inconvenience right now. But if there is a chance that they might jump on you while you’re holding the baby, it’s best to address the issue early on.
- Ensure they have a safe space within the home
If your dog is used to calm and quiet, a crying baby can cause some anxiety. The best way to handle this is to set up a place to retreat if they start to feel stressed out. This could be a bed in a quiet room or a crate in a quiet corner. One of our certified dog trainers can help you determine an ideal spot—and teach your dog why it’s there!
- Educate owners on possible conflicts
Have you ever noticed how similar dog toys and baby toys are? It’s common for a dog to get confused and think any toy that squeaks or rattles is meant for them. Jealousy is also a common issue, as a new baby sometimes means less attention for your pup. We can help you come up with a plan to stop these problems before they start.
- Follow up
We can do a lot to help your dog prepare in advance, but there is always the possibility a new problem will pop up after you bring the baby home. We’re happy to do a follow-up visit after your baby is born to help your dog with any final adjustments.
Our Cribs & Canines program is an in-home dog training program for new parents. If you’d like to learn more about how we can help your dog before or after you bring baby home, get in touch with us via the contact form or by phone at 210.890.3470.
Let's Get Started!
Call our office at 210.890.3470, or shoot us an email at training@alamodogtraining.com