How to Prepare Your Dog for a New Baby

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I will never forget the day that Ryan surprised me with our Maltipoo and first family pet, “Pippa.” It was on Christmas Eve – two months after we married. It was the biggest surprise I have ever had in my life. A maltipoo was my dream dog. She was the runt of her liter and was so tiny. She looked like a little fur ball. Two years later, when we had Hampton – our first child – she started acting out. I had heard that this would probably happen, but it was really bad. After our Sophie was born, she did it again. Honestly, I think it is because she wasn’t getting as much attention. It’s only natural, because we have two babies. Of course our dog isn’t going to come before them, but we do still love her to pieces and she needs a little extra attention every now and then to remind her that she is still special to us. So, how do you prepare your dog for a new baby?

I only have suggestions and not a lot of knowledge on this subject because so far, Pippa is still acting out. I think she senses the new baby coming this time and she has started using the bathroom in my (parent’s) house again. She has been getting into the trash and making messes and doing all of the lovely things that dogs do when they are feeling neglected.

How to Prepare Your Dog For a New Baby:

Pay her extra attention. It’s that simple. Pippa is a special member of our family and has all the personality in the world. She definitely has quirks and is very unique. She deserves to be treated special just like everyone else does. Here are a few ways we are paying her more attention:

• Buy her a new toy
• Buy her the best dog food available
• Have her groomed and bathed regularly
• Re-vamp her “doggy space”

How to Re-Vamp Your Dogs Space:

• Set up her “dog space” in an area of your house that she loves to spend the most time. For our dog, that would be the kitchen.
• Buy her a new bowl
• Give her some extra treats
• Wash or buy a new dog bed
• Give her NEW Beneful Incredibites with Real Chicken Dog Food as a better option dog food.
• Make sure she has fresh water
• Give her a new toy
• Allow plenty of time for her to get acclimated to her new space

We have been trying to give Pippa more attention again and even re-vamped her doggy space last week! Hampton broke her glass bowl a while back and I had yet to replace it (bad dog mom, right here!), so that was the first thing on my to-do list. I also bought her a new (adorable) bed and some delicious new Beneful Incredibites with Real Chicken Dog Food! She loves it and I feel so much better about giving her a dog food that has been reformulated dry dog food featuring meat as the #1 ingredient and has no added sugar. These new Beneful recipes were created thanks to feedback from real pet owners and 2 years of research to create the new Purina Baneful Originals and Incredibites. These new recipes have the same great taste that dogs know and love, but are healthier because they have taken away ingredients like added sugar thanks to the recommendation of customers. Beneful really cares about their customers and try listens to them and what they want for their pets. While I picked ours up at Walmart, Beneful is available at several retailers including: Target, Walmart, Kroger and Albertsons.

If you are interested in switching your dog to a new food or even the new reformulated Beneful Originals or Incredibites, be sure to check out these feeding tips and tricks to help with their transition.

Be sure to grab your free samples of the new Beneful Dry Dog Food here!