PETS
January 14, 2012 Introducing a new pet into a household that has children can take some careful planning, but it can be even more complicated to introduce a new baby into a household in which the only little one is a pet.
The most recent census showed that American households with pets now outnumber those with children. Pet ownership has reached an all-time high, and shows no signs of dropping.
But it seems that lots of pet owners are starting to have babies. Parents-to-be devote lots of time and energy getting the nursery ready – painting, buying furniture, decorating. They may be excited, but their pet is probably not too sure about all the changes.
It's impossible to explain to an animal that the house – the family – is about to be invaded by a little human who will demand almost all of the adults' time and attention. But there are some things the people can do to help their pet get ready for the new arrival.
Too often pet owners pay extra attention to their pet before the baby comes because they know they won't be able to do it so often afterwards. Unfortunately, that's the wrong approach.
Pets enjoy the attention they receive from us, the more the better, so if it suddenly stops that can be upsetting for the animal. It's better to start early and gradually reduce the time you spend touching and talking to your furry friend, so the change won't be so abrupt.
If your pet has never had any obedience training, try to do that before the baby arrives. Teaching an animal to have good manners and to respond to verbal commands will help to make for a good relationship for all members of the family later on.
If you would like more information about how to get your pet ready for a new baby in the house, the American Humane Association has a great resource available, a booklet called Pet Meets Baby. You can order it, or download it for free from their website, AmericanHumane.com.
Having a new baby in the house is a special time; don't forget that it's up to you to help your best friend through the transition as smoothly as possible, when you're speaking of pets.
© Copyright 2012, APR - ALABAMA PUBLIC RADIO
