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Childproofing Your Dog Essay

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10 tips for childproofing your dog
Some dogs readily accept a new baby into their home. Others will need help adjusting to the presence of a new baby, and to the changes in their schedule and environment that this presence entails. With proper preparation, most dogs can be taught to cohabitate with infants peacefully and happily.
1. Begin the process months in advance. It’s important to assess, train, socialize and desensitize your dog long before you bring your baby home. The best learning environment is a familiar, safe environment. A home with a new baby in it is a great environment to test skills that have already been acquired and practiced, but it might not feel familiar or safe enough for your dog to be able to concentrate on learning …show more content…

Evaluate your dog’s current behavior. How does your dog react to babies, children, adult strangers? What about new objects, new smells and unfamiliar situations? Is your dog easily startled? Can you identify any guarding behaviors or predatory tendencies? If so, it might be a good idea to consult an expert and possibly get help from a trainer.
3. Learn to read your dog’s body language. It’s important to be able to tell when your dog is feeling fearful or stressed. It’s easy to perceive a dog’s self-calming behaviors as endearing, or to confuse them with indifference. Does your dog display any avoidance or fixation? This may indicate anxiety or over-excitability. Be sure to provide them with enough exercise and play, employing a dog walker if necessary. Excess energy can turn into stress if it isn’t released.
4. Address training and behavior issues. Make sure your dog knows the basic training requirements – sit, stay, down, come, leave it, and calm leash-walking. Address any problematic behaviors using positive training methods. Encourage your dog’s independence and gradually transition primary care-taking duties of your dog (walking, playtime) to whoever will be performing these duties when you’re busy with the baby (a dog walker, your partner, your parent, or a friend who lives

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