There is so much to do when a new baby is coming into the world! Is the house set? Do you have everything you need? Is the hospital bag prepared? But… What about your dogs? Do they have a pregnancy plan for the birth day? Check out this guide on Creating A Pregnancy Plan For Your Dog.
Know Your Dates
Whether you have a due date or a scheduled cesarean, you know right about when you are going to have your baby. This date is more important than just the arrival of your baby, it is when your dog will need a caregiver.
Make sure that when you reach out to a dog sitter that they know the date. If they have never been a dog caregiver during a pregnancy situation, make sure they understand that babies don’t always come on the due date.
Your dog sitter should be available starting around your 37th week of pregnancy. This way, if you go into labor early they aren’t out of town and can jump right in to take care of the pup. Also, make sure they know that you could be in the hospital up to five days after labor depending on the recovery you need.
As long as the sitter is aware of these dates then there shouldn’t be any issues getting them right over to care for your pup!
Find A Sitter
There are two ways that you can go about this when it comes to your pregnancy plan. One, you can find someone that is a full or part time pet sitter. Or two, you can ask a close friend or family member.
Family or Friend
Using a family member or close friend can be more comforting when it comes to your furbaby as you are giving birth to a human baby. They know your home, your dog, and you. This is always easier for those who have dogs that have special needs; whether that’s medically or behaviorally.
Pet Sitter
There are a lot of people in everyone’s community that are full time or part time pet sitters. This is their livelihood and they absolutely love it. I honestly believe that you will not get a better experience than using a pet sitter who is dedicated to their profession. They know what they are doing, always come prepared, and will leave you happy with the care provided. I, myself, started off on Rover.com in 2018 and over 100 dogs and cats trusted me in their care.
Pregnancy Plan Meet & Greet with The Sitter
This is going to be the biggest step. Whether you are using family, a friend, or a pet sitter, making sure they understand everything is super crucial. No one wants to be in labor & delivery with a pet sitter calling you asking where your dog’s treats are!
One thing that I highly suggest is having someone come and stay at your home. This way the dog isn’t bounced around a lot right before meeting their brand new family member. There is a lot less stress on the dog when they stay in their own environment.
Set A Meet & Greet Date
First things first, schedule a date with that person for the meet & greet. Make sure that everyone is available for this date. Sometimes, I would do meet & greets without my husband and forget to ask the most obvious questions. The more people there, the more minds to ask the good questions or point out something that was missed.
At The Meet & Greet
At the meet & greet go over everything! And I mean everything! Show them where your dog’s food is located, how much they eat, and tell them at what times of the day. Let them know where the water bowls are and where the best sink is to refill them. Point out the different toy bins that you have around the house. Make sure they know where the treats are and the treat toys in case they need to step out for a couple hours. Go over the furniture rules; which are dog friendly and which are not. Review any medications your dog takes and how they’ll be prepared for them to administer.
Create A Pregnancy Plan Guide
The meet & greet is going to be an information overload. But addressing it can spark memories later when the sitter has started the stay. For those that can be a bit forgetful, create a guide and have that printed out for the sitter while you’re at the hospital.
In my house sitting guide, I like to put a little thing about the dog’s daily schedule along with all the commands they know. Commands are super key because the sitter may think the dog is ignoring them but in fact they just have a different cue! This is especially important for dogs with a behavioral need! Also, go over how you have been Preparing Your Dog For A Baby with the sitter so they can continue the training needed for the arrival!
Another thing I suggest that goes into your sitter guide is how to work your home. Write out how the TV turns on, how to adjust the thermostat, etc. Anything you can think of that will make their stay more enjoyable.
Create a Pregnancy Plan For Coming Home
When it is that final day and you are ready to come home, make sure everyone is on the same page! The best thing to do for your baby and the dog is to come home without the sitter there. Communicate with your sitter and make sure they leave your home a decent amount of time before you arrive. This way you can come home and start your introductions with your dog without trying to chit chat with the sitter. This makes everything less chaotic and less stressful on everyone.
After everyone has met and is adjusting, then reach out to your sitter about how the dog did while you were away. Also, make sure that you pay your sitter. Whether it is cash or inviting them over for a family dinner to meet the newest family member. They deserve to be thanked for being a part of your pregnancy plan!