8/4/09
It’s true that I’m going through my first pregnancy, but my first “child” was a beagle-mix I got from a dog rescue. Rusty is 5-years old now and very well tempered, but I still want to make sure the small gurgling addition to the family doesn’t incite any unexpected behavior. That’s why I took some time to talk with Neil Sattin, a professional dog trainer schooled in the practice of Natural Dog Training.
Neil had many helpful suggestions, including avoiding any big introductions, and instead being low-key about the baby’s arrival. He also suggested that if we had an opportunity before the baby comes home to bring a baby blanket for Rusty to sniff to help familiarize him with the new scent.
Dogs love structure, and nothing can disrupt this more than a new baby. Which is why Neil recommended thinking about what kind of structure we could stick to, to make the transition a little less difficult for Rusty. I promised to continue my daily morning walks to keep his tail wagging.
Another good tip I got is for when the baby creates stress for Rusty. Neil said to take the dog outside and play tug-of-war for about 15 minutes, making sure to let him win. This should release any energy that has built up from the stressful indoor atmosphere.
To find out more about Natural Dog Training, check out Neil’s Web site, which has a good basic introduction to the philosophy and practice.
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