With
many celebrities being dog owners before they are parents, it seems there is a
new phenomenon – mutternity– as couples such as David Walliams and Lara Stone,
Prince William and the Duchess of
Cambridge and Rochelle and Marvin Humes try their hand at furry
parenting before they go for the real thing.
As
most dog owners will tell you, sharing your life with man’s best friend is
deeply rewarding. Yet, what happens when this harmonious balance is disturbed
by the tiny patter of baby feet? A new survey* released today by Dogs Trust and
NCT reveals that almost half of new parents (46%) found it challenging to cope
with their dog and a new baby and one in six (17%) had considered giving up
their dog when the baby arrived.
To
help parents feel more confident about dealing with their dog alongside their
new baby, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, Dogs Trust, and the UK’s
leading charity for parents, NCT, have joined forces to create a new leaflet
aimed at preparing dog owning parents-to-be.
Dogs
Trust Chief Executive, Clarissa Baldwin OBE, explains:
“We are seeing many perfectly happy
and well behaved dogs being abandoned at our
rehoming centres once their owners become pregnant or a new baby arrives. Yet, by being prepared before the baby arrives, many of these worries can be dispelled
and the family dog can continue to be a part of the happy family.”
NCT
Chief Executive, Belinda Phipps, adds:
“All parents want the best for their
new baby. Some may think this means giving up their
dog, but by following some simple steps, new mums and dads can feel more confident about preparing themselves and
their pet for their new arrival”
Unsurprisingly,
there are different views between expectant and new parents. Only 2% of expectant parents have considered
giving up their dog whilst this rose to 17% when the same question was asked of
new parents.
The
survey also shows a need for health professionals to give clearer advice to
expectant and new parents who own a dog. Of the 1,000 expectant parents
surveyed, nearly 1 in 5 (18%) had been told by family, friends and health
professionals to give up their dog before their baby arrived but very little
advice was given. Over 52% said they would like to see more guidance from
health professionals on to how to introduce their new arrival to their current
pet dog.
TOP
TIPS FOR PREPARING YOUR DOG FOR BABY’S ARRIVAL:
- Dogs like
routine so it’s never too early to get your dog used to changes BEFORE the
baby comes home. By making changes
while you or your partner are still expecting, your dog won’t associate
the baby with upheaval.
- It’s essential
that your dog associates the baby with positive feelings, so if you’re
intending to make some rooms ‘dog free zones’ and using baby gates then
start doing this well before your baby is born.
- Now is also a
good time to get Rover used to staying in a safe place with his bed and
tasty chew for short periods of time every day. There will be times when
you’ll be busy with the baby, so training Rover how to be happy on his own
for a short time is going to help him cope with the changes ahead.
- Members of your
family or health workers may put pressure on you to part with your dog
thinking they are making life easier for you. If your dog is
friendly with people then you should be able to introduce your new baby to
the family dog quite happily.
- Involve your dog
in as much family life as possible so he feels included and his nose is
not put out.
- Think about how
you can make dog walking as easy as possible - a sling might be easier
than a pram as it leaves you with your hands free to hold the dogs’ lead.
- Dogs love cuddly
toys but can find it tricky to differentiate between their toys and the
baby’s, so keep the dog’s toys separate and perhaps smear a tiny blob of
peanut butter on them.
- Being a new
parent is time consuming, but always make time to stroke or groom your
dog, so they have your undivided attention away from the kids
The Golden
Rules
- Never leave your
dog alone with your child
- Never punish or
shout at your dog for approaching your baby
- Always praise
your dog for behaving gently with your baby/child
- Always keep your
child well away from your dog’s food bowl
- Never let your
child interrupt his sleep or take away his toys
- Never let your
child shout in your dog’s face or pull his tail
You can download a copy of the “New Baby” factsheet.
Notes:
*NCT
survey of over 1,000 expectant parents and 1,000 new parents, December 2012.
Photo credit: Andy Catterall
Dogs
Trust works with Primary School across the UK to educate children on how to
stay safe around dogs visit www.learnwithdogs.co.uk
for more information and practical advice.
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