| Ten Terrific Tips for Bringing a Baby Home to a House With a Dog |
| By Jessica Adams, Bark ‘N Bubbles Dog Wash & Boutique |
- If your dog sleeps on the couch or bed, get him a bed for the floor. Old pillows and blankets will do fine. Get him used to his new bed well in advance of the baby’s arrival. He will welcome this special place that is all his own.
- Get a baby doll and carry it around wrapped in a baby blanket. It doesn’t have to be new. Find one at a garage sale or ask a friend whose child has outgrown their doll. Allow the dog to sniff the ‘baby’ without getting too intrusive to the baby’s space.
- Get the dog used to the sound of a baby crying. Watch and record shows the sound of babies crying such as Discovery Health Delivery. There is an old Friends episode in which Rachel wakes her sleeping baby and it cries throughout the entire episode. Letting the dog hear and get used to crying keeps him from becoming upset when he hears “his” baby cry.
- Place bottles and pacifiers on the floor to get him used to the fact that “these are for the baby”. Every time the dog gets near them, tell him “no, that’s for the baby” and redirect him to his special toy.
- Start putting out and turning on the baby bouncer, activity walker, highchair, etc., so your dog can become familiar with these new and unusual sights and sounds. Let him get his investigating over with so when the baby arrives, these things are old hat to him.
- Start a new rule of keeping the dog out of the nursery. It just healthier and cleaner for the baby and makes for fewer things for your dog to get in trouble for.
- Babies start crawling sooner than you think so relocate those food bowls to a place your baby can’t have access to.
- Doggy doors become quick escapes for babies. Start a new “potty schedule” for your dog to get used to by the time the big day gets here.
- Start walking the dog with the stroller so you can both get that act perfected for future baby days. There are plenty of days that baby, mommy and doggy all need to get out of the house to walk the stress away.
- Get your dog on a monthly maintenance for flea control and be sure to bathe him regularly to help keep your floors free of hair and dirt.
Following these simple steps can alleviate stress for both you and your dog and make bringing the baby home to a pet anxiety-free for you and your dog!
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| Trimming your Dog’s Nails |
| By Jessica Adams, Bark ‘N Bubbles Dog Wash & Boutique |
- Get all your supplies together: Nail trimmers, A Clotting Powder or Gel & Towel.
- Bend your Dog’s Paw back so you are looking at the underside of his nails.
- Clip the tips of the nails, taking as little off as possible. Repeat this process if needed.
- If you cut too far, you can cut the Blood Vessel in the nail causing it to bleed. If this happens quickly apply some clotting powder or gel to the nail while applying pressure, use towels to wipe off any blood spots.
- Give your dog a treat when done!
Nail trimming can be stressful and even scary for you and your dog, so allow us to help. We are available to trim nails 7 days a week and even have ˝ price nail trims on Tip-Toe-Tuesday
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