Top Ten Tips For Kate: Introducing Lupo To The Prince

HRH Prince George of Cambridge will be met by many people in the coming weeks who will know exactly how to behave around the new-born, but one family member who will not be so sure how to handle the furore surrounding Prince George, is Lupo, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Cocker Spaniel.

Lupo came into Kate and William’s life last year and has been lavished with attention, but now, as experienced by millions of families across the UK, Kate and William will have to find a way to focus their attention on their baby without making the dog feel excluded. The Kennel Club has offered advice on how to ensure that the transition is an easy one, and offers the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge free training lessons for Lupo, should they be required.

Carolyn Menteith, a Kennel Club Accredited Instructor, said: “Kate and William’s attention will quite rightly be focused on their new baby, but I’m sure they will remember that Lupo is a member of their family too and there are simple steps that they can take to ensure that both dog and baby develop a good and happy relationship.

“For dogs, the introduction of a new-born can be confusing, particularly if they have been the centre of their owners’ universe prior to the baby’s arrival. While new parents have a lot to do with their new baby, it is important not make the dog feel left out, or even worse, shut away from his family. He still needs some quality time with his owners and all the same exercise and games he is used to, so he learns to enjoy having another member in his family as much as his parents do.”

TOP TEN TIPS FOR NEW PARENTS

1. Mum should greet the dog while dad brings in the baby - If mum has been away at the hospital the dog will have missed her and be delighted to see her back so despite the excitement of bringing the baby home, she should remember to greet the dog first so that he doesn’t feel excluded.  Then the dog can get used to the presence of the baby calmly.
2. Keep the dog busy - Use interactive toys like a stuffed Kong to occupy the dog when you are busy with the baby. They use up a lot of energy, plus if he learns that he gets really good things while the baby is around, he is far more likely to be happy with this new addition to his family.
3. Vary your dog’s routine a little, long before the baby comes home - so he doesn’t always expect things to happen at the same time every day. While dogs like routine, things are bound to change when the baby comes home.
4. Remember that the dog will still need the same amount of exercise and interaction - otherwise he will get frustrated and bored, which can lead to difficult behaviour. Try and find some ‘dog time’ in hectic baby-filled days.
5. Include, don’t exclude - Do not punish your dog for trying to get your attention – remember things have changed for him too! Instead calmly show him the right way to behave and reward him for it. He will then associate correct behaviour around the baby with something positive. Good manners however should have been trained well before the baby comes home.
6. When the baby is asleep, you can spend some quality time with your dog - playing games, doing some training, or if you have a babysitter, going for a walk. Remember to also include the dog when the baby is awake too so everyone feels part of the family.
7. Use a baby gate - They are perfect for dogs as well as children as they can keep him away from the baby while he can still see what is going on and feel like part of the family. Try to teach your dog to spend time on the other side of the baby gates from you long before the arrival of the baby – making sure he always has something nice to chew so he learns that this is a good thing.
8. Crate training - By teaching the dog to enjoy being in a crate, he can be included far more by being in the same room as you and the baby and get used to all the new sounds, smells and sights, without having direct access to the baby (and, once the baby starts crawling, so the baby doesn’t have direct access to the dog!).
9. Never leave the dog and baby alone together - and never allow the baby to ‘play with the dog’. Many new parents think this is cute…. it isn’t – it is often just dangerous!
10. As the baby grows, teach him how to behave - it is important to teach him the correct way to behave around dogs and how to treat them with respect. The Kennel Club has an interactive Safe and Sound game online, which teaches children the correct way to behave around dogs in different scenarios, so that safety is never compromised. www.thekennelclub.org.uk/safeandsound

Carolyn continues: “There are plenty of steps that dog owning families expecting new-borns can take before the baby arrives. Most importantly, make sure your dog has grasped all of the basic life skills, including knowing not to jump up, so that you are not struggling to train your dog at the same time as bringing up a baby. If you have issues then it is advised to get professional help and go to a recognised dog trainer or a good training class so that these can be ironed out.”

To get help training your dog, the Kennel Club’s Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme is the largest dog training scheme in the UK and offers bronze, silver and gold awards as a dog’s training increases. www.thekennelclub.org.uk/dogtraining.

The Kennel Club Accreditation Scheme for Instructors in Dog Training and Canine Behaviour (KCAI) is the only scheme for dog trainers and behaviourists in the UK offering a nationally recognised qualification formally endorsed by City and Guilds NPTC. Members of the KCAI scheme can offer specialist and one-to-one behaviour and training sessions. www.thekennelclub.org.uk/kcai.

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Posted by chesliepickett on Jul 25 2013. Filed under Health & Training. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.